A fan-greeting event for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay was cancelled after hundreds of supporters gathered outside The Shard in London on Tuesday due to safety fears and the presence of the Metropolitan Police.
Vijay is currently in the United Kingdom as part of a Tamil Nadu government delegation to promote investments in the state. In view of his presence, a public appearance was planned near The Shard, London’s iconic skyscraper, where supporters had gathered to see the Chief Minister.
But the large gathering raised concerns over public safety and the required permission for the event. Vijay’s team eventually announced through a loudspeaker that the programme would not go ahead.
"We are calling off the programme for public safety because we don't have permission due to safety reasons," a member of the Chief Minister's team said.
The fans had been waiting for more than 24 hours outside the venue and hotel to meet Vijay. The cancellation left the fans disappointed after they had gathered in large numbers.
Tamil Nadu CM Vijay’s fan greeting event in London cancelled over safety concerns after hundreds gathered outside The Shard to see him
— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) September 16, 2026
Authorities announced the cancellation outside Vijay’s hotel and asked crowds to disperse peacefully pic.twitter.com/ECcu3k2SbN
The Metropolitan Police expressed concerns about crowd safety, and the size of the crowd made it difficult to carry out the public appearance, the report said.
After the cancellation, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) IT wing also appealed to supporters not to gather outside Vijay's hotel and to try to meet him along his travel routes. The appeal was made with public safety and security considerations in mind.
The incident took place during Vijay’s wider UK investment outreach tour. The delegation signed several memoranda of understanding on investments of around ₹12,300 crore during the UK visit, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Office said. The agreements are expected to support investment and employment opportunities in Tamil Nadu, with officials estimating more than 9,400 high-value jobs could be created.
Vijay’s UK trip attracted both investment-related engagement and attention from members of the Tamil diaspora and his supporters. The large gathering outside The Shard showed the level of interest among supporters who wanted to see the Chief Minister during his overseas trip.
But the fan interaction could not go forward when authorities had to worry about crowd size and the lack of permission.
The cancellation also underscores the logistical challenges inherent when public figures with large support bases make public appearances in busy international sites in the middle of busy London. The Shard and the London Bridge area are very busy areas of London, so crowd management is key at all times for large gatherings.
For now, Vijay’s UK engagements are focused on the investment outreach programme. He is due to conclude his UK visit and return to India on Wednesday, according to reports.
The London fan event was cancelled not because Vijay’s UK visit was changed but because the planned public appearance could not proceed due to safety concerns and permission issues.
