Western students close London streets with massive 'fake homecoming' party
Emergency crews had transported 6 people to hospital by noon with dozens more needed medical attention later
A notorious party that started Saturday morning on a small street outside the Western University gates in London, Ont., has seen more than a dozen students hospitalized, multiple arrests and a main artery in the city shut down.
London police estimate more than 20,000 revellers streamed onto Broughdale Avenue over the course of the day to carouse at the now infamous Fake Homecoming or FOCO.
Police were forced to close Richmond Street, between Epworth Avenue and Huron Street, with crowds coming from all directions through a usually quiet residential neighbourhood.
"I'm here to have a good time! Just to let loose," said one partygoer, who travelled more than three hours from Lindsay, Ont., to be at the party.
Multiple people said they came from outside of London to the illegal street party that appears to have grown in size and notoriety. The primary colour however, in the sea of people, was still purple for Western.
By mid-day, paramedics said they had transported twelve people to hospital with more than 36 others treated on-site. At one point, the street was so packed ambulance drivers could not get through.
London police have been preparing for FOCO for weeks now, with a temporary command centre set up on Broughdale, and coloured placards on telephone poles to help coordinate emergency response.
Here’s one of 6 people paramedics have transported to hospital. So far today. Another 12 have required some form of medical attention. <a href="https://t.co/JYcpe2fTVG">pic.twitter.com/JYcpe2fTVG</a>
—@AndrewLuptonCBCPolice could not say how many people had been arrested but CBC News saw several students being taken away in handcuffs.
At least one student had been fined for being on a roof, with police promising to issue fines of more than $1,000 to students hosting crowded house parties.
"Broughdale has clearly become a destination. I am extremely disappointed," said city councillor Phil Squire who has worked alongside the university, city officials and emergency crews this year to try to mitigate the street party.
An iron fence was even installed blocking Broughdale Avenue from a wooded trail that connects to Western's campus.
Last year, FOCO cost the city approximately $100,000 in policing services alone.
By late afternoon, students could be seen lying on lawns and falling down in the streets. Public urination was an issue well beyond Broughdale Avenue with police saying they issued multiple tickets.
In an effort to keep students from showing up at the illegal street party, Purplefest was organized on campus with rapper A$AP Rocky booked as the headliner.
But Friday night, the rapper tweeted that he wouldn't be coming due to visa issues "following my Sweden incident." A$AP Rocky was charged with assault earlier this year after an incident in Stockholm.