Margate stabbing and assault linked to beach party
Detectives investigating a stabbing and assault in Margate have said they believe the attacks were connected to an unofficial beach party.
About 4,000 people joined a party - thought to be a celebration of Jamaican independence - after word spread on social media, Kent Police said.
Fights and public disorder broke out at the event, and a man was later treated for a stab wound to the leg.
Det Ch Insp Mick Gossett said police were not told of the party in advance.
He added: "While Saturday was peaceful with fewer numbers, word spread quite quickly on social media, and the numbers increased to about 4,000 on Sunday.
"We're just trying to piece together who organised this, how it came to be, and ask them to work with us to facilitate such events in the future."
He said police were in the area for another event and patrols were moved to the beach as numbers increased.
Two men, aged 19 and 21, from south London, were arrested in connection with the stabbing, and a 19-year-old woman from London was arrested in on suspicion of assault.
All were being questioned in custody on Monday.
Thanet council said it was not informed and could not identify the organisers.
It said staff were deployed to deal with illegal parking and litter when the volume of visitors became apparent.
The council said a large number of parking tickets were issued in "difficult circumstances" throughout Sunday afternoon.
In a statement, it added: "Due to the numbers of visitors on the beach, cleaners could only gain access in the evening once people had started to leave."
A clean-up operation was under way on Monday, the council said.