O2 Academy Brixton To Reopen 16 Months After Deadly Crowd Crush Killed Two People

The O2 Academy Brixton has announced it is set to reopen in April, 16 months after it was closed following a crowd crush that killed two people.Security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, and mother-of-two Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, were killed when fans without tickets tried to force their way into a show by Nigerian Afrobeats artist Asake on December 15, 2022.A 22-year-old woman is also understood to remain in hospital in a serious condition following the incident.The O2 Academy announced on its X account on Monday morning it is to reopen on April 19, with a run of performances by tribute bands, more than a year after it was shut in the wake of the tragedy.The venue previously played host to some of the world’s biggest music stars, including Kings of Leon, Amy Winehouse, The Clash, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Kasabian, Florence and the Machine, and Blur.The venue faced permanent closure after the Metropolitan Police urged Lambeth Council to remove its licence.