Highgate Magistrates' Court closed after brawl

Highgate Magistrates' Courtwas closed on Thursday and Friday following extraordinary scenes in which a group of youths chased two teenaged boys into the court building and attacked them with weapons.

Two youths aged 14 and 15 were taken to hospital - one with a head injury and the other for injury to the torso area - and later arrested in connection with the affray, which began on the street outside the court at around 11.45am on Thursday morning and moved inside the waiting area of the court.

A female PC was punched at the scene, and an axe and knife used in the attack have been recovered by officers. Four arrests have so far been made in connection with assualt and affray. The court remained closed on Friday while forensics teams investigated.

A number of suspects are still being sought by police. The group is said to be largely young black men in their mid-teens, wearing hooded tops or beanie hats, many of whom dispersed in the direction of Archway Road after the attack. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact DS Stuart Robinson of Haringey CID on 020 8345 0838, or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555 111.