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Organizers confident Leeds Festival will go ahead
Text and pictures taken from www.virtual-festivals.com
In
a statement, Benn revealed that, "There were a series of incidents
involving up to 500 people in which 71 toilets and one portacabin were damaged
by fire. No festival goers were injured.
"Police
and security attended, contained and dealt with the situation. In the context of
the first sell-out Leeds Festival which saw 50,000 people enjoy the live return
of Guns 'N' Roses after nine years and the return of the Prodigy after four
years and three days of the best music festival in Britain, the actions of under
1% of the crowd, while regrettable, should not be allowed to detract from a very
successful weekend which has put Leeds Festival firmly on the UK music map.
"We
will not give in to the mindless minority and will strive to make it more
successful next year. The Leeds Festival will have a very long and successful
future."
For once the Reading festival has had virtually no press coverage by
comparisson, and police reported impressively low crime figures and arrests.
On
behalf of the local residents who were already opposed to the Leeds event taking
place, Councilor Lee Benson said, "The main objection has always been the
damage which the event does to the park and the violence over the past two year
has just been an add on. Local people will be disgusted by what has happened and
they will be determined to fight on."
Virtual
Festivals are determined that one of the best festivals in the world will
continue, and, having braved the dangerous and frightening scenes to get
exclusive photos, are co-operating fully with the police to track down and
prosecute the arsonists.