Love Parade Trial Duisburg 2010 · Criminal Proceedings 2017–2020
A historical archive of reporting and translated material relating to the criminal proceedings that followed the Love Parade crowd disaster in Duisburg, Germany.
Background
From the 2010 disaster to the criminal proceedings
On 24 July 2010, the Love Parade was held on the site of a former freight yard in Duisburg. A critical crowd situation developed around the access and exit system serving the event site. Twenty-one people died and hundreds more were injured.
The subsequent investigation and legal process extended over several years. The criminal trial began on 8 December 2017. Proceedings were initially brought against six former employees of the City of Duisburg and four employees of event organiser Lopavent.
The proceedings examined a complex combination of planning, approval, access arrangements, crowd movement, operational decision-making, communication and actions taken on the day of the event.
Proceedings against seven of the ten defendants were discontinued in February 2019. The case continued against three defendants until 4 May 2020, when the remaining proceedings were also discontinued. The criminal trial therefore concluded without a judgment.
Love Parade disaster
Twenty-one people died and hundreds were injured during the event in Duisburg.
Criminal trial begins
Proceedings opened against ten defendants connected with the city administration and event organiser.
Proceedings narrowed
Proceedings against seven defendants were discontinued. The trial continued against three defendants.
Trial concludes
The remaining proceedings were discontinued after 184 trial days, bringing the criminal case to an end without a judgment.
Trial archive
Explore the Working With Crowds coverage
Reporting has been retained in its original chronological archive. The pages contain translated German reporting, contemporary news coverage and observations from different stages of the proceedings.
Earlier 2018 proceedings
Earlier testimony and reporting from the first full year of the criminal trial, including accounts from witnesses and those directly affected by the disaster.
Open archive2018 trial archive
Continued testimony examining planning, security arrangements, police actions, access controls, crowd movement and the developing expert evidence.
Open archive2019 trial archive
Coverage of a significant year in the proceedings, including the discontinuance of cases against seven defendants and the continuation of evidence against the remaining three.
Open archiveFinal proceedings
The final phase of the trial, including further evidence, examination of operational arrangements and the eventual discontinuance of the proceedings on 4 May 2020.
Open final archiveLove Parade, Duisburg 2010 — Case Study
The original Working With Crowds case-study page provides background material relating to the event, contemporary reporting and additional historical resources.
About the material
Reading the archive
The pages were created while the proceedings were taking place. They should therefore be read as a historical record of contemporary reporting rather than as a retrospective legal judgment.
Translation
A substantial proportion of the archive was originally translated into English from German-language reporting. Translation wording may not reproduce German legal or technical terminology precisely. Original source reporting should therefore be consulted where precise interpretation is required.
Historical material
Statements contained within contemporary reports represent the evidence, observations or opinions being reported at that stage of the proceedings. Later evidence or legal developments may have provided additional context.
Crowd-safety learning
The archive contains extensive material relevant to crowd planning, access and egress, flow management, command, communication, security deployment and multi-agency coordination. It should be considered alongside current professional guidance rather than used as operational guidance by itself.
Respect for those affected
The archive concerns an incident in which people lost their lives and many others were injured or traumatised. Material has therefore been retained for educational and historical purposes with appropriate respect for those affected.
