Key Points
- An anonymous TikTok post has urged Year Nine pupils (aged 13-14) from eight schools in Hackney, east London, to engage in a “Hackney War” involving violence from February to July 2026.
- The post divides the schools into “red side” and “blue side”, instructing pupils to “jump” anyone from the opposing side and “be violent”.
- Suggested weapons include compasses, metal combs, and rulers.
- Named schools: City Academy, Cardinal Pole Catholic School, Haggerston School, Urswick School, The Excelsior Academy, Bridge Academy, Mossbourne Community Academy, and City of London Academy Shoreditch Park.
- Fights are to gather at a McDonald’s branch in Hackney, specifically on Mare Street.
- The post emerged days after a 13-year-old boy allegedly stabbed two pupils (aged 12 and 13) at Kingsbury High School in Brent, north-west London, on Tuesday, February 10, 2026; the suspect faces charges of attempted murder and knife possession.
- A grandmother of a Year Nine pupil expressed concerns to Metro newspaper, warning of a “disaster waiting to happen” and noting schools seemed “disinterested”; she referenced the Kingsbury incident.
- City of London Academies Trust states: “The safety and well-being of students is our highest priority. Encouraging, organising, or promoting violence is completely unacceptable, and this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated. We are actively engaging with parents, carers, the Metropolitan Police Service, and local partners to ensure students are kept safe and fully understand the seriousness of their actions. We are committed to creating a thriving school environment, and ensuring the safety of children and young people.”
- Metropolitan Police are investigating to identify those responsible, promising a “robust approach” using anti-social behaviour laws, increased patrols, and collaboration with schools and council.
- The post was first reported by Metro newspaper.
- Imagery in the post appears inspired by US gang rivalries, with red and blue bandanas akin to Bloods and Crips.
- Police and schools have increased presence; one staff member at a listed school confirmed it was taken seriously, with pupils addressed at lunchtime.
- No reports of actual fights occurring as of February 13, 2026.
Hackney (East London Times) February 14, 2026 – A chilling TikTok post from an anonymous account has called on schoolchildren from eight Hackney schools to “bring weapons” and prepare for a six-month “war”, dividing Year Nine pupils into rival “red” and “blue” factions amid heightened fears following a recent school stabbing in north London.
The message, which surfaced days after a 13-year-old boy allegedly stabbed two younger pupils at Kingsbury High School in Brent, instructs participants to “jump” anyone from the opposite side, “be violent”, and use items like compasses, metal combs, and rulers as weapons during clashes at a local McDonald’s. Authorities including the Metropolitan Police and affected schools have swiftly responded with investigations, increased patrols, and warnings to parents, emphasising zero tolerance for such incitement.
What Does the TikTok Post Say?
As reported by Timothy Sigsworth of The Telegraph, the anonymous TikTok post explicitly splits Year Nine pupils – aged 13 to 14 – from the eight Hackney schools into a “red side” and a “blue side” and tells them to “jump anybody you see from the opposite”. It urges: “Be violent,” and specifies that participants could use compasses, metal combs, and rulers when fighting.
The post, first reported by Metro newspaper, organises combatants to gather at a branch of McDonald’s in Hackney between February and July for what it brands the “Hackney War”. Coverage in the Evening Standard echoes this, noting the call for students to bring sharp objects like compasses and metal combs to the proposed fights on Mare Street.
GB News reporting highlights that the imagery promoting the “Hackney War” appears inspired by gang rivalries in Los Angeles, featuring bandanas commonly associated with US gangs – red for Bloods and blue for Crips.
Which Schools Are Involved?
The schools listed in the TikTok post, as detailed by Timothy Sigsworth of The Telegraph, are City Academy, Cardinal Pole Catholic School, Haggerston School, Urswick School, The Excelsior Academy, Bridge Academy, Mossbourne Community Academy, and City of London Academy Shoreditch Park.
These institutions, many part of the City of London Academies Trust, have been directly named in the “red side” versus “blue side” division. Yahoo News Canada coverage confirms the same list, emphasising the involvement of ninth-grade students from these east London schools.
What Sparked This Post?
The TikTok emerged just days after a shocking incident at Kingsbury High School in Brent, north-west London, where a 13-year-old boy allegedly stabbed two pupils on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
As reported in BBC News, the boy, whose identity is protected due to his age, faces two charges of attempted murder; he allegedly sprayed insecticide in one child’s face before stabbing a 13-year-old in the neck, causing three wounds, a spinal fracture, and hand injuries requiring surgery, then injuring a 12-year-old with a 3cm neck laceration. ITV News quotes Temporary Commander Helen Flanagan of Counter Terrorism Policing London:
“These are extremely serious charges against a young boy, and we continue to support the victims and their families, as well as the wider school community following this shocking incident.”
The timing has amplified concerns, with the grandmother linking it directly to fears of escalation.
What Are Parents and Grandparents Saying?
One woman, who has a grandson in the affected year group, told Metro newspaper:
“There is no hiding on that street, everything is completely open. What if a pupil just happens to be walking through it and gets jumped? It’s a disaster waiting to happen. I have rung all the schools and so far everyone seems disinterested, but we all saw what happened at Kingsbury High School. This could end up being really serious.”
A Facebook post from a local group expressed worry, with a staff member from one of the schools responding:
“As a member of staff in one of those schools I can assure you it has been taken seriously and pupils have been spoken to at lunchtime about the …”.
London Centric media notes that schools deployed staff to ensure pupils dispersed safely amid heavy police presence.
How Are Schools Responding?
Schools ‘seem disinterested’, according to the grandmother quoted in Metro, but official statements contradict this.
A spokesman for the City of London Academies Trust said:
“The safety and well-being of students is our highest priority. Encouraging, organising, or promoting violence is completely unacceptable, and this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated. We are actively engaging with parents, carers, the Metropolitan Police Service, and local partners to ensure students are kept safe and fully understand the seriousness of their actions. We are committed to creating a thriving school environment, and ensuring the safety of children and young people.”
GB News and Evening Standard attribute the same statement to the Trust, underscoring collaboration with police and parents.
What Is the Police Doing?
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said:
“We are aware of these social media posts and are making enquiries to identify those responsible. We will take a robust approach to any violence and use our powers under anti-social behaviour laws to deal with groups intent on disorder. We are working closely with our partners in local schools and the council and would also like to reassure people in Hackney that we will be increasing patrols in the area.”
London Centric reports that the Met took the threats seriously post-Kingsbury, with reporters observing heavy police presence and school staff interventions. Yahoo News confirms authorities are monitoring streets actively.
Has Violence Occurred?
As of reports on February 13, 2026, there are no confirmed incidents of fights stemming from the post. London Centric describes it as “the Hackney school war that wasn’t”, with preventive measures in place.
Reddit discussions speculate on “sets” in Hackney but do not report actual clashes related to this event. Police reassurances focus on prevention.
What Broader Context Exists?
This incident follows patterns of social media-fueled youth gatherings in London, such as a TikTok “blind date” event in Sutton earlier in 2026 that led to police clashes with 200 youths, though no arrests or injuries occurred. Evening Standard reported dozens of officers raising batons after disturbances.
Reddit commentary on the story calls for banning TikTok and notes the rudimentary weapons suggested. The post’s emergence highlights ongoing concerns over social media’s role in youth violence, as noted in Telegraph links to related mental health risks.
In Hackney, a borough with existing gang tensions referenced in online forums, such calls risk escalation, though authorities stress robust action.
