‘Drug craze’ rave planners hit back

Organisers of a rave have defended themselves after the event was branded as a “drug orgy” by the press.

Thirty people ended up in hospital after the festival in Falkenstein, Lower Austria, at the weekend. Six drug dealers were arrested. Around 80 people are facing drug charges. Newspapers claimed the event escalated into a “wild drug orgy.”

Now managers of the electronic music festival launched a counter-attack on the media. They said today (Weds) that the number of sick people and arrests rose compared to last year’s edition of the bash due to more visitors and increased police presence. They argued intensified cooperation with authorities helped catch more drug dealers.

Reports have it that the local council planned to give the thumbs up to another edition of the rave to take place in the town in 2012.