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Death toll rises from Love Parade stampede
By CMU Editorial | Published on Tuesday 27 July 2010
The death toll of the Love Parade stampede rose to 20 last night as a 21 year old woman died from injuries she suffered during the tragic incident. Authorities confirmed yesterday that they had now identified the other nineteen festival-goers who died on Saturday. Meanwhile the number injured during the crowd surge was pegged at 512.
As previously reported, tragedy struck at the legendary free dance music event, this year taking place in Duisburg, when a crowd surge occurred at the only public entry point to the festival site. The entrance, which forced hundreds of thousands of revellers through a relatively narrow tunnel, had been seriously crowded for hours before the incident occurred.
It is not exactly clear what caused the crowd to surge when it did, though some have speculated that one festival-goer may have fallen onto other people while trying to climb the wall of a ramp on the festival side of the tunnel, causing panic and then a stampede. It is likely those who died fell during the panic and were trampled by the rest of the crowd.
A criminal investigation is under way to try to ascertain what really happened. Officials undertaking that investigation yesterday seized various documents from the offices of the event’s organisers, presumably to review what plans were made for controlling and protecting the safety of the hundreds of thousands of people who attended the event. It was confirmed charges of negligent homicide could be made as a result of the investigation, though it is not yet clear who might be held responsible for the tragedy.
City officials and the local police force could also both be held liable for the incident. A police union has already blamed organisers and city council men, while reports suggest city officials have also been busy distancing themselves from any liability. Possibly as a result of that, city mayor Adolf Sauerland received an unfriendly welcome from local residents when he visited the site of the crowd surge yesterday. Such an unfriendly welcome, in fact, some media are reporting security around the mayor has been stepped up.
Meanwhile, flags across Germany flew at half-mast yesterday while a shrine of flowers, candles and cards were placed around the tunnel where the crush occurred. A service of remembrance is also being planned by city officials. As previously reported, organisers of the Love Parade have announced they are bringing the two decade old event to an end following this weekend’s tragedy.
