Cops blamed for Love Parade stampede

2010-08-30 20:03

Berlin - A six-minute video made by the organiser of the Love Parade music festival blamed German police on Monday for the crushing crowds in which 21 people were killed last month.

The professionally cut video, with a German-language voice-over, graphics and fast-forwarded film of the crowd movements, was made public on a special internet site, www.dokumentation-loveparade.com.

Police are currently investigating whether negligence led to the deaths. The techno-music event on July 24 in the city of Duisburg was organised by a private company, Lopavent, with authorisation from the city.

The company asserted the crush was caused when police linking arms at two places gave up efforts to hold back crowds trying to enter the festival. The crowd then ran up against a third, departing group restrained by a third police cordon.

The website also offered uncut video made by closed-circuit cameras of the crowds. In Berlin, Lopavent said it was publishing all the video from the cameras.

The company said the release was its attempt to help the investigation.

Rainer Schaller, aged 41, head of Lopavent, said earlier he felt "moral responsibility" for the disaster.

- SAPA