Berlin's Rave the Planet Parade Opens with Tribute to Terror Victims

The Rave the Planet techno parade began in Berlin's Tiergarten with a minute of silence to honor the victims of an Islamist terror attack that occurred three weeks ago near the Christopher Street Day (CSD) event. The event, which is the first major gathering in central Berlin since the attack, took place on the Strasse des 17. Juni between the Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column. During the opening rally, co-founder Dr. Motte urged participants to think of love, while a representative from the CSD association called for courage and resolve.

Organizers expected up to 300,000 techno fans under the motto Imagine Love. The event was held under heightened security measures, with approximately 1,500 police officers deployed. Security included the use of helicopters, drones, and the closure of surrounding roads and paths with bollards. Public transport was affected, as S-Bahn and U-Bahn trains bypassed the Brandenburg Gate and Bundestag stations.

Extreme heat posed a significant challenge, with temperatures reaching over 30 degrees Celsius, and one source specifying 35 degrees in the shade. To combat the heat, police deployed a water cannon near the Victory Column, and some music trucks emitted cooling water mist. Participants were seen using water sprays and carrying large quantities of water.

The terror attack on July 25 involved an assailant who drove a van into a crowd and likely attacked people with a machete. The attack killed one woman and injured at least 31 people.