A trial has been ordered over Love Parade 2010 stampede deaths

A German court ruled that organizers of the Love Parade festival in 2010 will face trial for the deaths of 21 people who were crushed by a stampede.

Seven years ago at Love Parade, thousands of people rushed a tunnel which was the only access to the techno festival. This resulted in a stampede that left more than 500 people injured. Now 10 individuals involved in organizing the event will face charges of manslaughter and negligence.

Directly following the tragedy, a court in Germany had dropped the case, but now that decision has been overturned due to a possible conviction being "proven with sufficient probability".

The Duisburg court said in a statement that an investigation found "breaches of the duty of care with which the accused are charged were the cause of the deaths and injuries”.

At the time of the festival, which hosted approximately one million people, British DJ Mark Knight said he was adamantly told by the organizers to continue with his set when the tragedy occurred: "They had been liaising with the authorities and the stance that they had taken was that we really cannot make people aware too much of this situation for fear of more panic. So we had to keep playing, which was very odd and a surreal environment."

The trial in Duisburg will include Four event organizers and six municipal employees.

[Via: BBC]

Harrison is Mixmag's East Coast Editor. Follow him on Twitter here