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| Carnival crowds take to streets | Carnival crowds take to streets |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of thousands of people have turned out on the streets of west London for the second day of the Notting Hill Carnival. | |
| The theme of this year's event is Set All Free, commemorating the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade. | The theme of this year's event is Set All Free, commemorating the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade. |
| Hundreds of police officers have been mobilised for the event. | |
| Police have made 104 arrests over the carnival period, including three for attempted murder. Some 124 criminal incidents have also been reported. | |
| The Notting Hill Carnival, which is in its 43rd year, is the world's second largest street party, after the Rio Carnival held in Brazil. | The Notting Hill Carnival, which is in its 43rd year, is the world's second largest street party, after the Rio Carnival held in Brazil. |
| Processions with flamboyantly-dressed performers and colourful floats, along with sunny weather, have drawn crowds to the streets of west London, with at least half a million expected. | |
| 'Slavery' roots | |
| Figures for the carnival include 11,000 police shifts, five million tonnes of chicken consumed and 5,000 bottles of rum. | |
| Lewis Benn, one of the carnival's organisers, said the event had grown into a massive cultural celebration. | |
| "The history of carnival evolved from the slavery days of people under oppression - looking at ways to free themselves from oppressiveness and that's how carnival evolved into the great event it is now. | |
| "Coming over in the '50's from our forefathers in the Caribbean, mainly Trinidad, and it has grown into what we have - a great diverse event which covers all cultures and is now one, if not the biggest, cultural event in Europe." | "Coming over in the '50's from our forefathers in the Caribbean, mainly Trinidad, and it has grown into what we have - a great diverse event which covers all cultures and is now one, if not the biggest, cultural event in Europe." |
| Flamboyant performers and floats have paraded the streets | |
| The carnival has proceeded relatively peacefully so far, Chief Inspector Jo Edwards said, with the number of arrests and reported crimes reduced substantially from last year. | |
| Three people arrested on Sunday on suspicion of attempted murder, after a stabbing in Ladbroke Grove, remain in custody. | |
| Another three men have also been arrested on suspicion of possession of firearms. | |
| Four people were arrested on Sunday night in Maida Vale as part of an ongoing intelligence operation by police. A firearm was also recovered. | |
| Carnival-goers have praised organisers and police for making the event feel safe. | |
| Mia Frederickson, 35, said she and her husband had felt safe bringing their two young children to the carnival. | |
| "We're having a great time and the kids are loving the atmosphere," she said. | |
| "They're only five and 18 months but there's so many police around I'm not too concerned. It feels very safe." | |
| At least half a million people are expected on the carnival's main day | |
| Chris Jenkins, 35, an IT consultant from Clapham, south London, who is among the spectators at the street party, said: "This is London at its best - people all getting on together." | Chris Jenkins, 35, an IT consultant from Clapham, south London, who is among the spectators at the street party, said: "This is London at its best - people all getting on together." |
| And 24-year-old Lisa Roberts, from Australia, said: "We heard only great things about carnival so we had to come and experience it. | And 24-year-old Lisa Roberts, from Australia, said: "We heard only great things about carnival so we had to come and experience it. |
| "We thought the summer had forgotten to come to London but it's great to see the sun out and everyone enjoying themselves. | "We thought the summer had forgotten to come to London but it's great to see the sun out and everyone enjoying themselves. |
| "Culturally, this is definitely one of the richest festivals I've ever been to." | "Culturally, this is definitely one of the richest festivals I've ever been to." |
| In the months leading up to the carnival police arrested 24 people. | |
| And for the weekend British Transport Police installed metal detector arches on underground and railway stations to screen people bound for the event. | |
| An automatic number plate recognition system has also been installed near the boundary of the carnival to assist police to stop and search suspect vehicles. | |
| The three-mile parade route begins in Great Western Road and ends in Ladbroke Grove. | The three-mile parade route begins in Great Western Road and ends in Ladbroke Grove. |
| Have you been to the Notting Hill Carnival this weekend? If so, send your pictures to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk | Have you been to the Notting Hill Carnival this weekend? If so, send your pictures to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |