Inside huge illegal rave on Welsh industrial estate with semi-conscious bodies lying on road
Photos from a massive rave that saw 1,000 people illegally congregate on an industrial estate in Wales show revelers climbing on loudspeakers, dancing black-eyed and dressing up as Vikings before police finally put a stop to it.
The event – which hospitalized four people – was organized by the free rave movement Peace Love Unity Respect (PLUR) and saw hordes of people descend on the Kenfig industrial estate late Saturday night.
Videos from the event showed ravers dancing into the wee hours of Sunday morning as local police fought to turn off the music and disperse the huge crowd.
Locals who live in nearby Kenfig and Bridgend say they were unaware of the secret planned event until they heard the ‘thumping music all night long’ and noticed ‘more than 70 cars’ clogging the local road network.
A local man shared video of the crowd during his Sunday morning run, saying the scenes were reminiscent of a “punk” event.
Hundreds of revelers flocked to a small industrial estate in Wales this weekend
Some showed up dressed as Vikings for the Egg Tech Easter rave event
Police rushed to the site late Saturday night to stop the illegal gathering
Revelers were pictured dancing with black eyes during the event which hospitalized four people
More than a thousand people came to Kenfig Industrial Estate in South Wales
Police were called to the units late Saturday night as the rave began
He said, “It’s like that scene from Crocodile Dundee when the punk rockers gate crushes that house….” It’s strange, as far as I could tell, they came from England.’
Other videos captured showed huge crowds gathering around makeshift stages set up at the site.
Several videos show people inhaling balloons while dancing in the crowded area.
Police said they had been called to reports of a rowdy event in Bridgend, South Wales, on Saturday night and ordered the crowd to disperse, but by lunchtime yesterday hundreds of people were still at the site.
Superintendent Steve Jones provided an update this morning, noting: ‘We are reviewing all lines of inquiry following the meeting at Kenfig Industrial Estate to identify any breaches under applicable law.
‘The relevant information has been obtained from some perpetrators and the investigation is ongoing.
“A large majority of those present left in the late afternoon.
“Our resources remained near the crime scene all night last night. The injuries of those taken to hospital remain minor.”
The rave started late Saturday afternoon and continued well into the night
Footage shared on social media showed revelers dancing long into the night and lighting fires
Some revelers brought sparklers to the illegal event on the Kenfig industrial estate
According to police, more than 70 cars were parked along the small country roads leading to the illegal rave
Witnesses say some people at the rave were lying on the floor semi-conscious
Police finally managed to disperse the crowd on Sunday afternoon
Local reactions to the rave, with several people reportedly lounging “semi-consciously” around the rave, were mixed with some praising their efforts and others criticizing the mess that had been created.
One person wrote on Facebook, “That place will just stay full of c**p and litter. Kenfig is abused enough by some local people and that’s such a shame.’
Another said, “Let them continue not to hurt or harm anyone.”
A raver, Nigel, was traveling from Hampshire with his three friends in a van.
He said they arrive in the early hours and don’t have to worry about when to go home and they go to these types of events most weekends.
This weekend was an important event in the rave scene, according to Nigel, as it is EggTech or EggTek, a celebration of techno music at Easter.
The annual event is part of the Peace Love Unity Respect (PLUR) and free rave movement, which originated in the US in the 1990s.
The rave started on Saturday evening and lasted until Sunday afternoon
About 70 cars entered the area blocking local roads
Locals reported seeing people leave the rave site early yesterday morning
Local residents have criticized the event and fear people will leave behind large amounts of rubbish
Free raves are meant to give people a chance to ‘escalate’ and dance freely in a safe space among like-minded people.
Nigel said: ‘It’s a class event and this is a good place for it. Last year we had it in Dorset. 100% worth the trip.’
Local resident Chris Davies said: ‘I started work at 6am this morning and I thought it was a concert or something. You could hear it at the bottom of the hill. They are not much trouble.
“People were walking down this morning and I stopped a guy and asked, ‘What’s going on? Is it a concert?’ He just went “Uuuhhh”. I didn’t get much out of him.’
Another contestant, Chris, traveled four hours to get here today and said it was ‘totally worth it’.
Explaining how they find these raves, he said, “Actually, they come out about a week early. Everyone submits their number to the social media group and then everyone gets a group text saying, “Call this number on this day.”
“Then on the phone line you get a general area to go to. Last night it said “go to Bristol and surrounds”. So everyone in the country who was on their way was on their way to Bristol last night.
“Then that changed in Cardiff as we drove through the night. That is the best. It’s an adventure. Eventually you figure out where you’re going. I’ve been coming to them for years and you get to know so many people. All texts say: Respect the country and respect the police.
“It’s just kind of fun to get crowds of people together and have a party…I’ve always thought that as long as you’re nice to the cops, they’re decent.”
Police remained in the area today to clear up the rubbish and move people away
The ravers left behind a lot of garbage, including beer cans and plastic bottles
The police say they are still investigating the illegal rave
Locals had expressed reservations that the area would remain littered after the rave
Ahead of the bank holiday weekend, the Welsh Ambulance Service urged people not to ‘waste vital resources’.
The service said: ‘The Welsh Ambulance Service is urging the public to protect their assets over the four-day Bank Holiday weekend.
“The Trust is reminding people to collect medicines, including prescriptions, and stock up on first aid supplies to treat minor injuries and illness like at home.
“Along with the four-day weekend comes a better weather picture, and we’re asking the public to please drink responsibly and treat our emergency responders with respect.”
Sonia Thompson, Assistant Director of Operations (Emergency Medical Service), said: ‘We always see a surge in demand for our services over a long weekend, and this weekend is expected to be no different.
“Better weather usually means more people are out socializing or traveling to visit family and friends, so it’s important they get their prescriptions together, keep a stocked first aid kit in their home and car and know what services they need.” have to use if they get sick or get injured.’