Urgent action is being called to stop illegal raves after violence broke out in a disused warehouse at Wapping in London’s East End where two men are reported to have been stabbed.

A police officer was also said to have been injured when trouble broke out on Saturday night at the warehouse in Pennington Street.

Now the London Assembly’s John Biggs has been in touch with Tower Hamlets borough police commander Dave Stringer.

He said: “Action must be taken to secure these disused buildings which become a target for troublemakers.

Biggs is calling for a meeting with the venue management company and police to make sure “this deplorable violence and disorder doesn’t happen again.”

Five arrests were made, it is understood. The stabbing injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

The rave party brought condemnation from Tower Hamlets councillor Denise Jones, representing Wapping, who said: “Pennington Street is not an acceptable place for a late night entertainment venue. Residents contacted me all last year about street fights, binge drinking, loud music and discarded needles and cans.”

Several venues have since had licences revoked, she pointed out, and police closed them down.