What went wrong at deadly German techno party?

What caused the deadly panic at the Love Parade? As the number of people crushed to death in Germany’s music festival disaster rose to 19, an outcry over security measures is gaining momentum.

The country is reeling at TV images of revellers running for their lives and others who were not so lucky. But amid the shock, explanations are being demanded.

Police say overcrowding at the entrance tunnel to the event in the western industrial city of Duisburg near Dusseldorf sparked the stampede. They had apparently tried to prevent people joining the parade, amid the massive crowd build-up, prior to the tragedy.

Reports say some victims died not in the tunnel itself but after falling over security barriers outside.

The festival continued amid the carnage as it was feared news of the drama could spark further panic. More than 300 people were injured. Makeshift medical areas were set up.

Authorities and organisers are defending security measures amid claims the site was simply not big enough to cope with the 1.4 million festival-goers.

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