P&O confirms “mass brawl” on cruise ship was not caused by a clown
A brawl which broke out on a P&O cruise ship over the weekend, leading to two arrests and multiple injuries, was not caused by a clown, according to P&O.
Furniture and plates were reportedly used as weapons when a fight broke out at around 2am on Friday morning on the Britannia cruise ship as it made its way from Bergen in Norway to Southampton.
Richard Gaisford, of ITV’s Good Morning Britain, was onboard the cruise and said on Twitter that one witness who was involved in the trouble told staff that “things kicked off when another passenger appeared dressed as a clown.”
“This upset one of their party because they’d specifically booked a cruise with no fancy dress. It led to a violent confrontation,” he said.
One witness, part of a group involved in the trouble, explained to staff that things kicked off when another passenger appeared dressed as a clown. This upset one of their party because they’d specifically booked a cruise with no fancy dress. It led to a violent confrontation.
— Richard Gaisford (@richardgaisford) July 27, 2019
However, P&O have since said no clown was on board, according to Sky News. This was also confirmed by Hampshire Police, who are investigating the incident.
Police met the ship upon arrival in Southampton and arrested a 43-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman from Chigwell, Essex on suspicion of assault. They have since been released but remain part of the investigation.
Gaisford also tweeted that the events of Friday morning were isolated, and the rest of the people on board were “perfectly civilised”.
“Just to clarify, the majority of those onboard were perfectly civilised and nice individuals. It was just ruined by a few drunk idiots,” he said.
“Britannia left Bergen at 1430 on Thursday, the violence occurred 12 hours later after a black-tie evening. It followed an afternoon of ‘patriotic’ partying on deck, with large amounts of alcohol being consumed by many guests.”
Britannia left Bergen at 1430 on Thursday, the violence occurred 12 hours later after a black-tie evening. It followed an afternoon of ‘patriotic’ partying on deck, with large amounts of alcohol being consumed by many guests. pic.twitter.com/zQcEXGDJeg
— Richard Gaisford (@richardgaisford) July 27, 2019
Travel Weekly has contacted P&O UK for comment but is yet to receive a response at the time of publication.
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