German police defended how they handled security at a massive techno music festival that ended with 19 people dead and more than 300 injured in a stampede on Saturday but gave few clues as to how the tragedy occurred.
I've seen this, hard to miss as it used to be held 5 blocks from my apartment, but it always amazed me people didn't get hurt more often. 1 million people crammed into a space suited for maybe half a million (when it was held in Berlin still) and 80% of them drunk and a great number stoned dancing and moshing together for a whole day in the in the beating sun. Oh and then there was the music that made bagpipes sound good after two songs.
The festival was not immediately cancelled on Saturday night because authorities feared an announcement could spark a second panic. Organisers finally called the event off in the late evening hours.
Which was a very smart move.