The rapper AJ Tracey said he “didn’t expect that many people to turn up” after huge crowds gathered in a park in Manchester to see him perform.
The organisers of the event on Sunday in Platt Fields Park in the suburb of Fallowfield “have been fined”, the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said on Twitter.
Greater Manchester police have now confirmed a £10,000 fixed penalty notice has been issued to the organiser for breaching coronavirus legislation, the Manchester Evening News reported.
Photos and video footage show hundreds of people standing around basketball courts inside the park.
The BRIT award-nominated west London hip-hop star had posted an invite on Twitter on Sunday that read: “Next stop manny! Come link me Platt Fields Car Park 4pm.”
Tracey was photographed posing for pictures and thanked his fans for “turning out” in a video posted to his official Twitter page after the event, before conceding further planned events were “not safe”.
The rapper was reportedly in Birmingham earlier, and had planned to visit Bristol later on Sunday.
“Big love Manny [Manchester] and Brum [Birmingham], thank you for coming out. […] It’s not going to be safe for me to come to Bristol. I didn’t expect that many people to turn up in Manny [Manchester] and genuinely, yeah man, this is not okay for me to go ahead. I’m gonna head home to London,” he said in the clip.
“I’ll be back when it’s safe to do so, sorry guys,” he added in a separate tweet.
Current coronavirus legislation stipulates that organisers of illegal large-scale gatherings can be fined up to £10,000.
In a statement to the Manchester Evening News on Sunday evening, Greater Manchester police said officers were called to attend a “large gathering” at 2.50pm where a “music event” was being held.
The force said: “Officers attended and attempted to engage with individuals and ensure the safety of those present. People have now dispersed and the organiser of this gathering has been issued with a £10,000 Fixed Penalty Notice.
“GMP would like remind the public of the importance of adhering to the lockdown regulations in order to keep our community safe and protected.”
On Sunday evening, Tracey took to Twitter again and wrote: “i feel like i should announce a tour”.
This content first appear on the guardian