German Chancellor Promises 'Intensive' Probe Into Love Parade Stampede

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for an “intensive” investigation into the stampede at this weekend’s Love Parade in Germany.

Nineteen people were killed and 340 injured in the crush on Saturday (July 24).

Many survivors have already blamed organisers of the festival, which was held in Duisburg, near Dusseldorf.

Merkel said: "It now needs to be very intensively investigated as to how this happened because the many young people who were delighted to be going to the event have had... terrible memories and we have to do everything to make sure that something like this does not happen again."

The Love Parade originally took place in Berlin, but was moved to Duisburg in 2007.

Festival organiser Rainer Schaller said the festival would be discontinued in the wake of Saturday's tragedy, reports BBC News.

He told reporters the Love Parade was normally a “joyful and peaceful party”, but “in future would always be overshadowed by yesterday's events”.

For more information about the Love Parade and all this summer’s festivals, check out the Gigwise Festival Guide.