Notting Hill Carnival: Thousands enjoy sound, salsa and sun(photo's)

Image copyrightPAImage captionDancers from the Paraiso School of Samba observe their own minute's silence in memory of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire

Hundreds of thousands of revellers descended on Notting Hill for the final day of carnival.

Rooted in Afro-Caribbean culture and celebrating community cohesion, the event took on extra significance following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Colourful floats passed within half a mile of the blackened tower and revellers were encouraged to lower their music and walk respectably.

People were asked to wear green to remember the victims of the fire.

Media captionSounds and colours from the 2017 Notting Hill CarnivalImage copyrightREUTERSImage captionThere is an increased police presence following the terror attack in BarcelonaImage copyrightAFPImage captionThis year is the 51st Notting Hill CarnivalImage copyrightAFP

The entire procession paused for a second time in two days for a minute's silence to remember the victims of the Grenfell fire on 14 June, in which more than 80 people are believed to have died.

The moment was concluded with a spontaneous round of applause and cheers, while firefighters were embraced and thanked.

Local MP Emma Dent Coad wiped away tears following the silence, which she observed with firefighters outside North Kensington fire station.

"It's a really, really lovely atmosphere," she said. "There's gorgeous weather, there's a lot of good feeling out there, a lot of people wearing green, and I think it should continue in that vein."Image copyrightREUTERSImage captionFirefighters observe a minute's silence

Samia Badani, the chairwoman of Bramley House Residents' Association, was guarding the hundreds of handwritten tributes and flowers left near to the tower after the fire.

Of the charred tower, she said: "The sight of it is something very shocking. It's very imposing.

"When people come here and see it, it just hits them."Image copyrightAFP

The Met Police said there were 221 arrests across the two-day party.

The London Ambulance Service said it had treated 344 patients during the first day of carnival - many for alcohol-related injuries.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said on Sunday that although the 51st carnival took place in a "context of sadness and sorrow", it was a celebration of London's diversity.

A heavy police presence marked the carnival route on Monday, with steel barriers and concrete blocks there to prevent a Barcelona-style terror incident or acid attacks.Image copyrightREUTERS
At the scene: BBC reporter Dan Freedman

Day two of the Notting Hill Carnival and another million people have hit the streets to enjoy Europe's largest street festival.

If revellers were concerned about the possible terror threat then they have not shown it.

The challenge for those policing them is how to make carnival safe without compromising its sense of fun and freedom.

Despite the checkpoints on the outskirts, which vet each vehicle that comes into carnival - a so-called ring of steel - police have retained their laid back approach where possible.

Some are wearing flowers around their necks, while others have been dancing to the reggae and dub blasting out of sound systems.

After a year of terror and tragedy in London that for many at carnival has struck way too close to home, this community has united and shown the world their sense of joy will endure.Image copyrightPAImage copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionThe event runs close to the towerImage copyrightREUTERSImage captionOrganisers have encouraged people to wear green for GrenfellImage copyrightREUTERSImage captionPolice officers look through binoculars on the rooftop of a building at carnival

Of the terrorism threat, one performer said: "Anything can happen to anyone anywhere and that's what terrorists want you to do - to be inside and be afraid.

"You can't do what they want you to do, you have to live your life so no, I'm not worried about it."

About a million people usually attend the carnival, making it Europe's biggest street festival.

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