Some 10,000 people attended an illegal rave held last Wednesday, May 8, on isolated agricultural land, without access to drinking water or sanitary facilities, in the French department of Maine and Loire, in the west of the country. This Monday, 400 people continued dancing, cordoned off by the police, in a celebration that has left one dead due to cardiac arrest, contradicting popular wisdom, which states that the best guest is the one who arrives when the party has already started and leaves before that it ends.
Today, Monday, May 13, the party is still going on with 400 people resisting. A party that has been expensive if the more than 5,000 violations are added, “which represents a total of more than 650,000 euros in fines,” according to the authorities (2,508 for disturbing public order at night, 2,100 for participating in a prohibited demonstration , plus 288 fines for drug possession) and, above all, a human life.
Some of the 400 people who continue to occupy the place show symptoms of being under the influence of drugs and alcohol. A 30-year-old man died on Sunday morning due to cardiorespiratory arrest, in the middle of the party. The Saumur prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the cause of death. The prosecutor, Alexandra Verron, also indicated that “separate proceedings had been opened on charges of damaging gatherings, repeated noise attacks and organizing a festive gathering without prior declaration and despite it being prohibited.”
Upon learning of the rave party near Saumur, the authorities activated “the aid station established by the State with the support of authorized civil security associations”, where 216 participants were treated, according to the prefecture in its account. x.
The owner of the agricultural land where the rally is taking place and the people bothered by the noise filed a complaint and some of the equipment used to broadcast the music was seized, according to the magistrate. “Fifteen arrests have been made in connection with the rave party, seven of which are still ongoing,” mostly for drug crimes, violence against public officials and rebellion, Verron added. It remains to be determined when the celebration will end but only one thing is clear: the hangover will be deadly.
