Fire Brigade statement on Hannah Close waste facility fire

From London Fire Brigade earlier today:

Twenty fire engines and around 125 firefighters are responding to a fire on Hannah Close, Neasden. 

Speaking from the scene, Assistant Commissioner Andy Pennick said: 

The Brigade was called at 1136 to reports of a fire on Hannah Close, Neasden. Upon arrival, firefighters were met by a well-developed fire involving a waste transfer facility. Recognising the scale of the fire, the initial officer in attendance immediately requested twenty fire engines be mobilised to the scene.  

An industrial unit, approximately 100m by 150m is currently alight.  We have around 125 firefighters currently working to bring the fire under control. The fire has produced a significant amount of smoke, with local residents being advised to keep doors and windows closed as we respond. Services on nearby rail lines have also been suspended as a precaution whilst we respond.  

Four of the Brigade's 32m ladders have been mobilised to the scene as part of our response, alongside the Brigade's Drone Team. A Hose Laying Unit and High Volume Pump have also been deployed, increasing the amount of water available to firefighters as they work to bring the fire under control.   

This is a protracted incident that will see crews on scene for the remainder of the day as the work to fully extinguish the fire. I’d like to thank our firefighters for their hard work so far at this fire, and our Control Officers for managing a significant number of calls and coordinating or response.  

The Brigade's Control Room took the first of over 90 calls reporting the fire at 11.34. Crews from Wembley, Park Royal, Willesden and surrounding fire stations have been mobilised to the scene. 

The cause of the fire is not yet known. 

Nearby residents were advised to close their windows to keep out the smoke. 

 

SEE VIDEO 

 

Some Wembley residents may remember the 'Wembley Stink' in the summer of 2012 when spectators attending the Olympic events at Wembley Stadium were treated to a really nasty stench coming from the Seneca waste works in Hannah Close- thankfully no fire that time.

READ ABOUT IT HERE  

Robotaxis rollout delay welcomed by Brent Green Party

Brent Green Party Councillor Suzanne Gallagher and Councillor Amandine Alexandre organised a protest against Waymo in Harlesden on May 22nd. They are asking the Mayor of London to hit pause on the robotaxis trial. Photo: Suzanne Gallagher 

 

  

Earlier this year, Londoners were led to believe by Keir Starmer’s government, Brent Labour leadership and big tech companies that the introduction of robotaxis in the capital was essential, inevitable and imminent. 

 

However, since April, when a serious Waymo incident happened in Harlesden, a coalition formed by Brent Green Party, trade unions and campaigning group Pull the Plug has been challenging this narrative and asking Sadiq Khan to hit pause on the robotaxis trial. 

 

Now, just over three weeks after Brent Green Party members, trade unionists, local transport workers and residents protested outside Waymo’s depot in Park Royal, the FT has revealed that driverless vehicles are unlikely to be introduced in London this year. 

 

TFL is not in a rush to publish regulatory guidance for driverless companies, and the Transport Committee of the London Assembly is yet to publish the result of its investigation on Autonomous Passenger Vehicles.

 

Councillor Amandine Alexandre, Green Party councillor for Harlesden and Kensal Green said:

This delay is a win for all the people who have been lifting up the veil on the negative impact robotaxis would have on jobs, road safety, privacy, but also safeguarding of our children, and our environment. This spanner in the wheel of extractive tech companies will be welcomed by the majority of Londoners. According to a YouGov poll published in July, 42% of us are opposed to the roll-out of so-called Autonomous Vehicles. 

 

Londoners have a lot of issues to battle with day-to-day - a suffocating rising cost of living, unaffordable housing and extreme heat. Improving their quality of life and protecting their jobs, and their health, should be the priority of the Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. 

 

AI-powered vehicles that generate tons of data stored in water and energy-hungry data centres are not the future of London. Londoners are the future of London.

NOTES 

•   Harlesden Says No to Waymo is a Brent Green Party campaign that was launched at the end of April 2026 after a WAYMO vehicle drove through a live police cordon on Harlesden High Street on April 22nd while officers were investigating a double stabbing.
•  A petition was launched at the same time and has gathered so far almost 450 signatures. 

Brent Civic Centre Murder: Police name 17 year-old victim. 15 year-old arrested.

 From Metropolitan Police

 

A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murder following a stabbing in Wembley.

The boy, aged 15, was arrested on Tuesday, 25 August. He was taken into police custody, where he remains.

At around 14:30hrs on Tuesday, 25 August, officers attended Brent Civic Centre on Engineers Way, Wembley, following reports of a stabbing.

Officers attended with the London Ambulance Service.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics, a teenager was sadly pronounced dead at the scene, having suffered stab wounds. Formal identification has yet to take place, but the victim is believed to be David Wynter, 17. His next-of-kin are being supported by specially trained officers.

A Section 60 order has been authorised, granting officers enhanced powers to stop and search people and vehicles. This applies to the Wembley Park, Barnhill, Tokyngton, Stonebridge, Roundwood, Dollis Hill, Willesden and Welsh Harp ward areas of Brent.

The order runs from 15:00hrs on Wednesday, 26 August, to 03:30hrs on Thursday, 27 August,

Superintendent Chris Clarke, lead for emergency response policing in the area, said: “This was a tragic incident, and we are aware of the significant concern the stabbing has caused in the local community. A police presence remains in and around the crime scene.

“We would like to reiterate that officers do not believe there is any wider risk to the community.”

Police continue to make enquiries, and anybody with information is urged to call 101, quoting reference 4032/25AUG. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or via their website.

A Section 60 authorisation gives police the power to stop and search people without the usual requirement of reasonable suspicion. It can be used when officers believe serious violence may occur, has occurred, or when weapons are likely to be carried in a specific area.

Brent Council leader's statement on fatal stabbing at Brent Civic Centre

 Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, said:

Today, Brent has been shaken by an appalling and deeply tragic incident at the Civic Centre, in which a person has lost their life.

Our thoughts are first and foremost with the victim, their family and loved ones, as well as the staff, residents and visitors who witnessed what happened.

The Civic Centre has been evacuated and will remain closed until further notice. I would urge people to avoid the area and allow the police and emergency services to carry out their work.

There is an active police investigation underway - please do not speculate or repeat any unverified claims online. We are working closely with the Metropolitan Police and will provide further updates as soon as we are able.

I want to express my sincere thanks to the police, paramedics and emergency services for their swift response, and to our staff for the professionalism, compassion and calm they have shown today in the most difficult of circumstances.

Police launch murder investigation after fatal stabbing at Brent Civic Centre - police statement

 From the Metropolitan Police

  

At around 14:30hrs on Tuesday, 25 August, officers attended Brent Civic Centre on Engineers Way, Wembley, following reports of a stabbing.

 

Officers attended with the London Ambulance Service. On arrival they found the victim, believed to be a teenage boy or man in his early 20s, suffering from stab wounds.

 

Despite the best efforts of paramedics, the victim was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

 

No arrests have been made at this very early stage, and officers are making urgent enquiries to identify and trace those responsible.

 

Following the incident, a Section 60 order has been authorised, granting officers enhanced powers to stop and search people and vehicles. This applies to the Wembley Park, Barnhill, Tokyngton, Stonebridge, Roundwood, Dollis Hill, Willesden and Welsh Harp ward areas of Brent.

 

Superintendent Chris Clarke, lead for emergency response policing in the area, said:  

 

This is an awful incident, in which someone has tragically lost their life. We are working to urgently identify the victim and inform his next-of-kin as soon as possible.

 

An investigation is underway to establish exactly what has taken place and trace those responsible. We recognise the concern this incident will cause within the local community and are committed to keeping residents informed as our enquiries progress.

 

In light of the incident, we have authorised additional stop and search powers to help prevent further violence, support our investigation, and keep people safe.

 

There will be an increased police presence in and around the area in the coming hours while our officers continue their investigation.

 

There is not believed to be a wider threat to the community, nor is this incident believed to be terror-related.

 

Anybody with information is urged to call 101, quoting reference 4032/25AUG

A Section 60 authorisation gives police the power to stop and search people without the usual requirement of reasonable suspicion. It can be used when officers believe serious violence may occur, has occurred, or when weapons are likely to be carried in a specific area. This will be imposed, until Tuesday, 25 August, at 03:30hrs

 

Wembley Park councillors issue statement on fatal stabbing at the Civic Centre in Wembley Park

Statement regarding the fatal stabbing that took place today (25/08/2026) at Brent Civic Centre from Wembley Park ward councillors.



Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the parents, family and loved ones of the deceased following this deeply distressing incident at the Civic Centre in Wembley Park.

We cannot begin to imagine the pain and heartbreak the family are experiencing at this terrible time. Our thoughts are also with everyone affected by this tragic incident. 

We will do our best to share information as we receive it, and we hope to engage with the wider local community after this tragic loss when appropriate in the coming hours and days. Please reach out if you have any information or are distressed by the events.

We are still awaiting further information from the police, and the Civic Centre remains a crime scene and has been cordoned off while the police investigation continues. We ask everyone to respect the cordons and allow the police to carry out their work.

Following the incident, a Section 60 order has been authorised, granting officers enhanced powers to stop and search people and vehicles. This applies to the Wembley Park, Barnhill, Tokyngton, Stonebridge, Roundwood, Dollis Hill, Willesden and Welsh Harp ward areas of Brent.

For more information please click the links below:

https://news.met.police.uk/news/fatal-stabbing-at-brent-civic-centre-wembley-512145

https://www.brent.gov.uk/news-in-brent/2026/august/council-statement-on-incident-in-brent-civic-centre




Councillor Iman Ahmadi Moghaddam
Councillor Najib Warsame

Cllr.Najib.Warsame@brent.gov.uk
Cllr.Iman.Ahmadi-Moghaddam@brent.gov.uk

Najib phone number:+447729227262 

Iman Phone Number:
+447717695384

BREAKING; Civic Centre stabbing victim has died

 I am so sorry to bring you the sad news that London Now has reported that the young victim has died.

 

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: 

We were called at 2:25pm today (25 August) to reports of a stabbing at Brent Civic Centre, Wembley, HA9.

We sent an ambulance crew, paramedics in fast response cars and an incident response officer. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.

Sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a patient was pronounced dead at the scene.

BREAKING: STABBING AT BRENT CIVIC CENTRE, BUILDING EVACUATED

 

Specialist medical helicopter lands nearby  (Photo: Wembley Matters)

 

 

Outside the Civic Centre side entrance (Photo: Wembley Matters)

 

Police and medic vehicles outside the main entrance (Photo: Wembley Matters)

 UPDATE THE AMBULANCE SERVICE HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE VICTIM HAS DIED

There has been a stabbing in the Civic Centre. The building is closed and everyone is being asked to stay away from the area.  Staff have been evacuated.

An oberver said that the library was school holiday busy and mothers had to shelter their children's eyes from the upsetting scene. 

Matthew Ames said on Twitter:  

I was in the library on the mezzanine level when it happened, and from what I could see from the balcony was somebody on the floor and splatters of blood. I have no more information than that.

Also on Twitter Arooj Tiwana said:

I was at the exact same place where the stabbing happened and had gone up to the first floor about ten minutes earlier, when a staff member walked into the meeting room and told us to evacuate because someone had been stabbed. What I witnessed on the way down was unreal.