The Grand Ducal Police have reported details of a recent police intervention at an illegal rave near Bavigne (Upper Sûre Lake).
On the evening of Saturday 24 August 2024, the Belgian Federal Police informed their Luxembourg colleagues of a possible upcoming rave in the Pommerloch area. The Grand Ducal Police noted that, due to the stormy weather, the unauthorised party could only be spotted near Bavigne around 01:00, as it was not possible to carry out a reconnaissance flight with the police helicopter.
An estimated 300 people, mainly arriving in vehicles registered in Belgium and the Netherlands, were already on-site at that time. For tactical reasons (e.g. increased danger due to softened terrain and risk of injury in the event of any escalation of violence during evacuation), the police initially decided against direct intervention on-site but to keep an eye on the situation from outside.
In the early hours of the morning, a police helicopter was used to gain an aerial view of the event location.
As it seemed the party would soon come to an end, no intervention was made due to the minor nature of the offence. There was also a risk that the rave participants would have moved on to festivals in the surrounding villages.
After the event continued, however, the decision was made to break it up around midday on Sunday 25 August 2024. The police operation was over by 16:00 without any issues. The police added that the organisers of the rave had been identified and the other participants were checked. Anyone suspected of drug or alcohol consumption was initially denied departure.
The police noted that a report would be drawn up for the public prosecutor's office.
