Berlin’s final Zug Der Liebe soured by allegations of sexual harassment, stabbings and firework attacks
The final Zug Der Liebe (Love Train) Festival wound its way though the streets of Berlin on Sunday afternoon. As the day went on however the festival failed to live up to its name, with some revellers turning their attention on police - and each other.
The day finished with some members of the crowd pelting police with bottles and shooting fireworks at apartments.
In scenes reminiscent of Berlin’s May Day celebrations a total of 400 police were in attendance, with three injured as a result of the incidents.
Three cases of sexual harassment were reported, while a man was hospitalised after a knife attack at around 10:30pm in Lichtenberg.
All in all, the police followed up 48 complaints in the festival’s eight-hour duration, eventually leading to the arrest of 11 participants.
The festival, which winds its way from Treptower Park, across the Schillingbrücke and into Lichtenberg via Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain is officially registered as a protest, but has gone on to resemble the famous Love Parade in recent years.
Participants follow musical floats through the streets, before finishing with a final dance party in Lichtenberg.
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px}
Despite attracting upwards of 10,000 participants, organisers announced that this year’s addition would be the last iteration of the event. The organisers managed to raise only €9,000 of the required €100,000 in advance of the festivities.
Comments
See Also
The day finished with some members of the crowd pelting police with bottles and shooting fireworks at apartments.
In scenes reminiscent of Berlin’s May Day celebrations a total of 400 police were in attendance, with three injured as a result of the incidents.
Three cases of sexual harassment were reported, while a man was hospitalised after a knife attack at around 10:30pm in Lichtenberg.
All in all, the police followed up 48 complaints in the festival’s eight-hour duration, eventually leading to the arrest of 11 participants.
The festival, which winds its way from Treptower Park, across the Schillingbrücke and into Lichtenberg via Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain is officially registered as a protest, but has gone on to resemble the famous Love Parade in recent years.
Participants follow musical floats through the streets, before finishing with a final dance party in Lichtenberg.
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px}
Despite attracting upwards of 10,000 participants, organisers announced that this year’s addition would be the last iteration of the event. The organisers managed to raise only €9,000 of the required €100,000 in advance of the festivities.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.