Zurich ‘Street Parade’ observes minute’s silence for victims of German techno festival crush

Minute’s silence at Swiss parade for Duisburg dead

GENEVA — Revelers at Zurich’s annual ‘Street Parade’ festival have observed a minute’s silence for the victims of a fatal stampede at a techno event in Germany last month.

Organizers stopped the floats and turned off the music at precisely 5 p.m. (1500 GMT) to honor the 21 people crushed to death at the Love Parade festival in the western German city of Duisburg on July 24.

The incident prompted organizers in Zurich to take extra security measures such as clearing obstacles and banning floats from using special effects at this year’s Street Parade.

Spokesman Stefan Epli said Saturday that 650,000 visitors attended the open-air dance party in the Swiss city.