CZECH TEK
Czech Tek Techno party in Mlynec village , West Bohemia 2005.
In 2005, the CzechTek festival took place in Mlynec village close to the German border in the west of the country. The organisers claimed to have permission from the landowner to set up the event, but shortly after the festival began, around 1,000 riot police arrived, using heavy equipment including tear gas, water cannons and the military BVP vehicle. Police cited damage to private property, and argued that the owners of the neighbouring properties had not agreed to allow access to vehicles and that the authorities had not been informed of the event.
The police damaged cars, electronic equipment and other property, and clashes between police and revellers resulted in multiple injuries on both sides. Police used massive amounts of tear gas and stun grenades, broke car windows with iron bars or threw gas grenades in. One participant was killed by a truck on his way to the festival in the early morning hours.[ Several dozen festival-goers were injured, fifteen seriously, and about fifty policemen were injured, five seriously.
Awards: Czech Press Photo 2005
