(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 19 - A huge illegal rave party that
brought young people from across Europe to a country site
straddling Lazio and Tuscany was broken up Thursday leaving
piles of waste, at least three alcohol-induced comas and one
drowning death in its week-long wake.
Two people were taken to hospital Thursday in a gave state of
agitation after the rave.
Police from the nearby city of Viterbo put an end to the revels
after identifying over 2,000 people.
"The area has been liberated," said the mayor of the nearest
town, Valentano, Stefano Bigiotti.
"There is no longer anyone at the site.
"I can only express satisfaction.
"(Interior) Minister (Luciana) Lamorgese, who personally
contacted me yesterday afternoon, kept her promise to free the
area by today.
"The operations were carried out with the utmost respect for
persons.
"Now they are already at work to remove the rubbish left at the
site as soon as possible".
The Viterbo police HQ said two vans with acoustic equipment
aboard had been seized, one belonging to two Dutchmen and the
other to two Italians.
Viterbo's provincial public order panel asked the interior
ministry to wind up the rave party.
The unauthorized event, which had attracted young people from
across Europe, had been going on in the countryside at Valentano
since Friday night.
"The situation is out of control, no negotiation is possible,
public order must be restored, people identified and the
responsibility for such a gathering established," said Lazio
regional health councillor Alessio D'Amato.
Viterbo prosecutors, meanwhile, opened a probe into the death of
a 25-year-old man at the rave.
The man, born in London but resident in the north of Italy, was
found dead in a lake near Viterbo Monday after taking part in
the massive event.
The man's body was found in Lake Mezzano. He had been seen going
into the lake Sunday night and not coming out again.
The interior ministry said Wednesday that police were working to
"restore legality" in the area. (ANSA).
Huge illegal rave party straddling Lazio and Tuscany ends
Unauthorized event attracted young people from across Europe
