Following the June 17 shooting at the Beyond Wonderland EDM festival, organizers of the Electric Forest festival have shared a statement regarding the safety of this week’s event.
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First offering condolences to those impacted by the tragic event, in which two people lost their lives, Electric Forest officials wrote in a post on social media about the festival’s safe environment. “We want to reassure you that HQ works year-round with large-scale event security professionals, Michigan State Police, and local law enforcement, to provide a safe environment for our patrons, staff, and artists. This presence will be visible to all attendees throughout the festival site and campgrounds.”
In their statement, organizers have assured increased security, as well as a specialized Festival K9 Unit present on site. “These highly trained dogs and their skilled handlers have undergone rigorous training in firearm detection amidst a large crowd and in challenging environmental conditions,” the statement continued.
“Everyone on site plays an important role in our safety,” festival officials added, noting the importance of the mantra “see something, say something.” “Please contact a member of the security team or festival staff member (who can be found at your nearest Neighborhood Pod or Info Booth and throughout the entire site) immediately in the event of suspicious activity, behavior, or any action by an individual that raises concern,” the statement continued.
The Michigan-based multi-day music festival is set to take place beginning Thursday (June 22) and will continue through Sunday (June 25). Check out the full statement below.
Two people were killed and three injured on Saturday night (June 17) when a shooter opened fire in the nearby campgrounds of the Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington. Day one of the EDM festival, Beyond Wonderland, was in full swing, taking place inside the venue at the time of the attack.
Reports of a shooter in the campgrounds—an area situated about a 20-to-30-minute walk from the entrance to the amphitheater—came in Saturday evening at about 8:25 p.m. When officers arrived at the scene, they “pursued (and) closed in on the suspect” as the suspect continued to “fire randomly into the crowd” before being apprehended.
At a press conference later that night, a representative for the local sheriff’s office stated the shooter’s motives were unknown. The second day of the festival was ultimately canceled.
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(Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images)
