Roskilde Deaths Make British Festivals Rethink Security
Following the death of nine fans during Pearl Jam's set at the Denmark's Roskilde Festival last Friday (6/30), festival organizers around the U.K. have been reviewing their security procedures.
BBC Radio 1's Love Parade, which will be held in Leeds, England, this Saturday (7/8), was given the go-ahead on Thursday (7/6) after all police leave in West Yorkshire was cancelled. The festival had been given a yellow light earlier this week after local police and the city council queried safety arrangements for the 500,000 people expected to attend. The 24-hour, free, street party and dance event will feature top British DJs, including Pete Tong, Seb Fontaine and Judge Jules.
Promoters of Scotland's T-in-the-Park festival, which will also take place this weekend and is expected to draw up to 50,000 people, also acknowledged that they had double-checked security procedures before the event.
Meanwhile, organizers of the Roskilde festival in Denmark, where nine people died after being crushed during Pearl Jam's set last Friday (6/30), are not to be prosecuted, confirmed Danish police on Thursday (7/6). A spokesperson for the authorities investigating the incident told Billboard.com that they regarded the deaths as a tragic accident and not a criminal offense.
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