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News & Reviews
BASS:
Tragedy at Love Parade as stampede kills 21; festival terminated
Love Parade, the world’s biggest annual electronic
music festival,
kicked off amid tragedy today when at least 17 people were killed
during a stampede at Duisburg, Germany. The city of Duisburg has set up
a hotline number where concerned family members can seek information.
The stampede
reportedly occurred after cops sealed off the entrance to this year’s
Love Parade "because it was already overcrowded," then absurdly told
attendees to turn around and walk back to where they’d arrived. Chaos
erupted in a tunnel as trapped people were pressed against the push of
the crowd.
The city of Duisburg has set up a hotline at which concerned relatives
can get further information: + +49 - (0) 203-94000.
Love Parade organizers, who were streaming this year’s event live at
its festival website, have since shutdown the stream.
"Our wish to arrange a happy togetherness was overshadowed by the
tragic accidents today. Therefore we are ending the live stream of the
Loveparade," organizers posted in German.
Local media reports said the event was continuing but it’s unclear
whether that will be the case through this weekend. Love Parade
organizers expected upwards of 1 million attendees this year.
UPDATE: Love Parade organizer Rainer Schaller said the event will
never be held again because of Saturday’s tragedy. Also, an additional
four victims died from their injuries bringing the number of deaths to
21.
"The Love Parade has always been a joyful and peaceful party, but in
future would always be overshadowed by yesterday's events," Schaller
said at a press conference on Sunday.
"Out of respect for the victims, their families and friends, we are
going to discontinue the event in the future, and that means the end of
the Love Parade."
Love Parade began in Berlin, Germany, in 1989 and has morphed into
similar events at cities around the world including San Francisco
(where was once called Love Parade but later changed to LoveFest).
The original Love Parade helped launch the careers of German techno DJs
such as Paul van Dyk
(pictured above) among many others.
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