10 people trampled to death at Germany's Loveparade

[demoleft]

Source: afp/dw world.de

At least 10 people have been trampled to death on their way to attend the Loveparade techno music festival in the western German city of Duisburg.

The tragedy occurred in a tunnel on the way to the festival grounds. Thousands of fans had been walking along a hundred-meter pathway toward the festival for several hours, many of them intoxicated.

About an additional 15 people were injured in the tunnel, according to police in Duisburg, in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and several people had to be resuscitated.

Read more: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5834737,00.html

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AFP breaking news:

Ten people killed in mass panic at Duisburg Love Parade
Ten people have been killed and 15 injured after a wave of mass panic swept through this year's Love Parade music festival in the German city of Duisburg, north of Dusseldorf, police said.

http://www.france24.com/en/


Unconfirmed German media reports said panic broke out and victims were crushed after authorities tried to stop thousands of people from trying to get into the parade area.
bbc, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10751899

[Ozymanithrax]

1. I guess they found no love...

in the sole of those
fucking number nines.

[blaze]

2. .

[truthisfreedom]

3. tragic.

[AngryAmish]

4. But what a way to go....

Almost like "The Meaning of Life".

[awoke_in_2003]

5. Too bad Techno Viking wasn't there...

he would have kept people's shit in line :)

[Earth_First]

11. +1

Techno Viking enforces the rules.

[awoke_in_2003]

13. then you saw the look...

he gave that one dude who bumped into some girl- it was withering :)

[awoke_in_2003]

14. and just so others get it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIwLWNEZtbc
the finger of god tells that dude where to go :)

[awoke_in_2003]

15. it still cracks me up...

"I am done being a bad ass, I just had a drink of water, and now it's the time at Sprockets where we dance"

[Haole Girl]

6. CNN video link:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/07/24/germany.panic.deaths/index.html?hpt=C1

Very sad. 1.4 million people. Saying, now, at least 15 people were killed.

[Synicus Maximus]

7. the count is up to 17 now.

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

8. my daughter has a friend in Germany who tweated her

that the number is 20 and expected to rise.

From what I have read, there was only one main entrance to the festival, through one tunnel. I don't know if that is true, but if it is, that completely criminal for an event expected to draw over a million. The promoters are guilty of criminal negligence, and I hope they are charged.

As a parent, I just can't imagine the pain. Watching your child go off to a music festival, and having this happen. My heart goes out to them. :(

[RamboLiberal]

9. Exactly - and it is not like these incidents have not happened before

Combine huge crowds and limited entrances/exits with barriers like a tunnel provides and you are asking for this kine of tragedy. Piss poor planning on officials parts.

[KDLarsen]

10. According to German TV..

The tunnel in question is 3-400 metres long and leads to an old cargo train terminal site, which was where the event was being held. The area was enclosed by the Autobahn (highway) and railroads, so the tunnel was the only way in and out.

The local authorities assessed that there were too many people in the area (roughly 500,000), and were trying to stop people from entering the event site. Unfortunately, someone had the braindead idea of closing off the tunnel exit away from the festival site, before closing the tunnel exit at the festival entrance. People inside couldn't enter the festival site and they couldn't exit the tunnel through the other side. People were trying to get away, panic set in, and carnage ensued.

It really sounds like someone has dropped the ball on this, and once again it has claimed human lives. Whether or not someone goes to jail over this, depends on the laws covering event safety. Here in Denmark, following the Roskilde Festival tragedy (which we sadly just marked the 10th anniversary of), there are very strict rules covering events such as this, whereby the organizers and the local authorities have to make an assessment prior to the event, covering any potential dangers and how they should be dealt with.

[bikebloke]

12. I thought the Love Parade was a Berlin event.

When did they move it? Or are they giving other cities a shot?

[Raggz]

16. The music went on

The moved out the bodies and the music played on...

[Odin2005]

17. I guess there was not enough love.

:(