Hundreds of people are currently breaking through barriers to see the New Year’s fireworks in London

This is the moment hundreds of people broke through barriers to see the New Year’s fireworks in scenes of carnage in London as a mass brawl broke out in Piccadilly Circus in front of frightened families.

Videos from the scene in central London show crowds rushing towards the event while pushing through barriers as police confirmed they pulled batons in Westminster to deal with the crowd.

Police officers were seen trying to stop people from passing as they ran into the Mayor of London fireworks display to jubilation.

The gates for the sold-out, all-ticketed event opened at 8 p.m. and there were no reports of significant incidents for the first three hours.

From around 11:15 p.m. to midnight, there were several incidents, including on Westminster Bridge, where groups of people without tickets pushed past construction site fences and fences.

The Met said in a statement: “Officials worked quickly in difficult circumstances to assist stewards, to prevent crowds entering the ticketing area and to ensure the safety of those already inside.

Children could be seen running from the area when a man snatched a crutch from the grip of another screaming man

“At the corner of Storey’s Gate and Victoria Street, they had to draw their batons when a small but determined group, who had pushed down fence posts to get in, became aggressive towards stewards and officers.

“A small number of people have been treated for minor injuries.”

Elsewhere in the city, clashes erupted between a group of men and frightened families with children during Saturday night’s New Year’s Eve celebrations in central London.

Video from Piccadilly Circus shows a huge crowd watching as men in dark clothing start smashing glass bottles and screaming as they push into the crowd.

A man was seen smashing a glass bottle on top of a trash can and appeared to be using the broken end as a weapon, while others threw it in the air, glass shattering on the ground.

A huge crowd watched as men in dark clothing began smashing glass bottles and screaming

Spectators filmed the brawl in front of the subway station entrance with their cell phones

Some of the men pushed and kicked each other, jostling each other while families dodged

Children could be seen running from the area when a man snatched a crutch from the grip of another screaming man.

Others pushed and kicked each other, jostling each other while families dodged.

Meanwhile, spectators filmed the brawl in front of the subway station entrance with their cellphones.

When the violence calmed down, five Metropolitan Police officers walked the street as crowds continued to move around them.

A Met spokesman told MailOnline: “Officers conducted high visibility patrols in central London throughout the night on New Year’s Eve, including around Piccadilly Circus.

“We are aware of a video shared online showing a brief altercation between two groups, during which some projectiles were thrown.

Officers arrived less than a minute later, but those involved had already dispersed among the crowd.

“We are not aware of any arrests specifically related to this incident.”

Eight people were arrested across the city on New Year’s Eve, including a 31-year-old man who was arrested on sexual assault charges.

Men threw bottles in the air, glass shattering on the floor as the brawl broke out

Crowds watched as the brawl unfolded outside the subway station entrance

Five Metropolitan Police officers walked the street as crowds continued to move around them

He was wanted by British Transport Police for five alleged indecent assaults on women and was arrested by officers during proactive patrols of the South Bank ahead of the New Year’s Eve event.

The force had inter-agency policing and a security operation was deployed across the capital when the revelers returned to the city centre.

During the night, two people were arrested for drunk driving and disorderly conduct, one for drunk driving and one for possession of an indecent weapon.

Two people were arrested for assaulting an emergency worker, one was also arrested for handling stolen goods.

A final person was arrested for combined assault and possession of cannabis.

The two officers attacked suffered minor injuries and are receiving the appropriate assistance.

The night was marked by a combined effort by Met officials, ambulance partners, the Office of the Mayor of London, Transport for London and event management and stewarding teams.

Volunteer Special Constables along with thousands of officers took to the streets in all 32 boroughs.