DUISBURG, Germany, July 26 (UPI) -- Police bungling and communications breakdowns contributed to the deaths of 21 party-goers at a huge German dance event, a top officer admits.
Joerg Schalk, chief adviser to the Duisburg police assigned to the Love Parade, is among more than 3,000 witnesses who have appeared before an inquest on the July 24, 2010, disaster. But he is the first ranking official to admit failures, Der Spiegel reported Tuesday.
Schalk said he was unaware of the severe crowding on a ramp where 21 people were trampled to death until it was too late.
He said nobody on his team monitoring the situation by video expected the stampede and all were "completely stunned."
Even before the event, police planning was plagued by shift rules that kept officers from being at the scene long enough. As a result, a new shift came in at the height of the emergency.
Cellphones failed to work, and radio contact was sketchy. Then a convoy of police vehicles entered the area, worsening the crowding, Schalk said.
