Dr. Motte Criticizes Love Parade's Organisation

Written by the B&B Crew Monday, 26 July 2010 20:06

Original founder of the Love Parade, Dr. Motte, has commented on the tragedy that left 19 people dead and 340 people injured at the Love Parade which took place last weekend. “The organizers didn't have the least amount of concern for the people…”


Dr. Motte furthermore commented that "The organizers are to be blamed. It is a scandal to only allow the people a single entrance to the party site... The organizers didn't have the least amount of concern for the people.” A spokesman for the police; Wolfgang Orscheschek stated that Mr. Schaller -who organized this year’s edition of the event- and CEO of McFit (German fitness centers) pressured the city to host the Parade despite concerns of locals and safety officials. Out of respect for the victims and their friends and relatives, Schaller announced the Love Parade will not be held again in the future. "The Love Parade has always been a peaceful party, but it will for ever be overshadowed by the accident, It’s all over for the Loveparade”

What should have been raver’s paradise ended in the worst tragedy ever known to the scene with 19 people dead and 340 injured. The disaster was sparked at 17:00 when organizers and security decided to close the festival grounds, which by then were already far overcrowded. Thousands of party people were still in line and gathered in the small tunnel (40 meters long, 15 meters wide) leading to the terrain. The situation worsened quickly and according to the police panic struck when people where trying to get out of the crowd via staircases and scaffolding and fell down, on top of the crowd.

According to an eye witness “There were 25 people lying in a heap. I screamed – people could no longer get any air. I saw dead people, and one person was sitting there looking extremely pale. I wanted to give him some water, but the ambulance medic told me there was no point as he was already dead." Reports mention some people were deadly injured during a stampede in the tunnel itself, while others fell 9 meters down from the embankment itself. 16 people died at the spot, three more in ambulances and one at the hospital.

In the meantime the festival itself went on to avoid further problems and panic. DJ Mark Knight told the BBC “We were told just before we were about to play 'the show has to go on. We cannot stop for fear of the repercussions and more panic.'" According to Knight, about half of the people at the festival seemed aware of the tragedy unfolding outside, while the other half looked oblivious. He described the scene as "very odd" and "surreal."

The police and fire department have released fierce accusations in the direction of the city’s council; especially the major is up for debate. The cause of the incident will be investigated the coming days, and possibly weeks, but the blame, is as said mostly going to the promoters and the city council. The consensus is that the location was terrible chosen, a city with around 400.000 citizens could not ever host an event that attracts 1.4 million people. That isn’t rocket science, it’s just common sense. The German police union stated they had warned the city beforehand but its officials didn’t take notice. During the weekend, German news paper Der Spiegel presented an official document that stated the event had clearance for 250.000 guests, 6 times less then the actual attendance. A security official from the fire department says he had warned the city about the tunnel, and that it could become a dangerous bottleneck, but his warning was ignored.

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