German Love Parade crush horror described by Britons

Britons have spoken about their horror after witnessing a stampede at a free dance festival in Germany, which claimed 19 lives.

Witnesses criticized the decision to have only one entrance through a tunnel at the Love Parade and said she warned the police about overcrowding.

A Briton, Salil Bhat, described seeing people on the ground with a "stamp marks on their faces."

Local authorities said a plan had been in place prior to the event.

The mayor of Duisburg Adolf Sauerland, where the festival took place, said a security plan had worked out beforehand.

Mr. Bhat, from Romford, Greater London, was "spontaneously" decided to visit the festival during a vacation in Germany.

"The rush of a heavy metal concert I recalled, only here there was nobody to help," he said.
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"The number of people I saw on the floor, but too far away, was ridiculous. They stamp marks on their faces. Only when I saw people being resuscitated that I understood how serious this is."

The British described the behavior of the authorities in the event as "simply incredible".

"The police and security personnel were more concerned with keeping people away from the edges, instead of helping people," he said.

Alan Donaldson, another Briton, the Stampede described as "a nightmare" and said he would like to see a number of organizers sent to prison for their role in the Stampede, which saw around 300 people injured, dozens seriously.

Describing the conditions in the crowd, he said: "There were so many people - it was much too small.

"This is the first time I've seen people die and it's done for me. What a waste of life.

"Someone needs to go to jail for this because some people have died for nothing. When I arrived, I knew it was a nightmare because there are too many people and it was much too small."
Love Parade
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* Techno-parade celebrating club culture, held in Germany since 1989
* Born in peace event in Berlin staged four months before the fall of Berlin Wall
* Viewed as an institution in Berlin by 1990, but suffer from increased tension with the city officials
* Cancelled in 2004 and 2005
* Hero of the Ruhr in western Germany since 2007, with 2009 event canceled

The Love Parade attracts music lovers from around the world, with floats from Brazil, Russia, Netherlands, Spain and Australia, among other nations.

The floats were expected to parade through the city for 10 hours. Many top international DJs were also due to land.

Mark Knight, a British DJ booked to perform at the event, was shocked when he had to continue his set on the main stage - even though it was clear something had gone wrong.

The DJ, who said he was "surprised" when he finally the full extent of the Stampede discovered, the organizers said was "very adamant" that he must perform.

"They were the contacts with the authorities and the position they had taken, was that we really do not make people aware too much of this situation for fear of more panic. So we had to play, that was very strange and in a surreal setting keep. "

The DJ said only about half the audience seemed to be aware of the Stampede and "the magnitude of the situation, which is a" very strange atmosphere "created.

"We saw people trying to move up to jump over the fences and tried to get away from the entrance, but we were not aware of what was really going on.

"It was hard to take it all in, but something about it just is not right."

The event started in Berlin in 1989 as a peace demonstration and developed into a large outdoor music festival.

The Love Parade attracts music lovers from around the world, with floats from Brazil, Russia, Netherlands, Spain and Australia, among other nations.