“Alaaf” party Chaotic conditions for youth outside Stadthalle
Bad Godesberg · When the entrance to a Karneval party at Stadthalle closed, turmoil arose when the young guests pushed the masses forward. Police were called to get the situation under control.
More details have come to light about the chaotic situation outside the Stadthalle on Friday evening. Around 1,000 youth waited outside in the street to try to get in to the party. A 19-year-old described a scene with several drunken youth and a fear of mass panic. She and her friends never made it in to the party because after waiting 2 ½ hours to get in, they gave up. A 17-year-old said the same thing happened to her and friends. After 1 ½ hours of waiting, they also gave up.
As reported, police were called to the scene where 1,000 of the 2,700 expected party-goers were still waiting out in the street. Jan Hoffman of “RheinEvents”, the organizer, said a stop had been issued in admitting further guests, but the order did not come from him or his people. He apologized for the mishap and said they had 23 security people working there.
The 19-year-old said when she arrived at the Stadthalle at around 8:00 p.m., there was already turmoil as no one was allowed to go inside, and the youth from behind, some of them drunk, pushed forward, squishing those in front of the other several hundred. “It was uncomfortable and scary”, she said. Police started to arrive around 9:00 p.m., and began to get the situation under control. They were challenged by youth who were inebriated and rowdy, and ignored their instructions. The father of the 17-year-old said a group of youth had trampled down a barrier and simply stormed in the Stadthalle.
A youth in costume was wearing an imitation belt of explosives and police confiscated it because they feared it might create panic among the guests. One patrol alone confiscated more than 10 large bottles and 45 small bottles of alcohol. The main squeeze occurred between 8:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. After 10:30 p.m., all were admitted to the party. According to Hoffman, everything ran smoothly in the first hour. For next year, they will plan to open earlier and to come up with a new concept for those waiting outside. Unused tickets can be refunded.
(Orig. text: Ayla Jacob)
