Stampede At German Love Parade Festival Kills 15

[Raistlin]

At least 15 people have been killed at the Love Parade dance music festival in the German city of Duisburg, police have said.

Police had been trying to stop people reaching the parade area because of overcrowding.

But the revellers panicked at a tunnel entrance. About 100 people were also injured, dozens seriously.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has sent her condolences to the family and friends of the victims.

"Young people came to party. Instead, there was death and injury. I am aghast and saddened by the sorrow and the pain," she said.

More than one million people were believed to have attended the event.

The stampede occurred at about 1700 local time (1500 GMT).

Duisburg police initially reported 10 deaths but later raised the toll to 15.

At least 10 people were resuscitated at the scene.

Reuters news agency quoted police commissioner Juergen Kieskemper as saying the situation had become "very chaotic".

He said police closed the parade area due to overcrowding. Those trying to get in were told via loudhailer to turn around, but panic broke out.

A number of eyewitnesses say police were warned of a huge crowd build-up and some report seeing dozens of people piled up on one another, the BBC's Tristana Moore in Germany says.