Victims of the Love Parade stampede remembered

25/07/11 00:43 CET

world news

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The names of 21 people who died a year ago in a stampede during a music festival have been read out at a memorial service in Germany.

Friends and relatives of the victims placed sunflowers in a symbolic act.

One year on, and survivors of the Love Parade tragedy are still traumatised. Love Parade participant Wolfgang Locke said “Physically, I have changed a lot. I can’t sleep at night. I have nightmares. I have become a completely different person.”

It was in a tunnel to the entrance of the festival where the 21 people were killed and more than 500 injured. Hordes of festival-goers pushed through the area at a former freight yard in Duisburg in western Germany.

In the aftermath, an investigation listed a catalogue of security failures which today has led to the introduction of stricter rules.

Last July, more than one million people attended the festival designed for only 250,000. Those who died were crushed in a mass panic in the entrance which was too narrow for the number of visitors.

More about: Ceremony, Duisburg, Germany

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