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| New Year 2015: At least 35 killed and 42 injured in Shanghai stampede | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 35 people died and 42 were injured during New Year celebrations in Shanghai when thousands of people stampeded. | At least 35 people died and 42 were injured during New Year celebrations in Shanghai when thousands of people stampeded. |
| Crowds of people had streamed into the Bund waterfront area of the city despite the planned large scale 3D laser display celebrations having been cancelled a week ago amid safety fears. | Crowds of people had streamed into the Bund waterfront area of the city despite the planned large scale 3D laser display celebrations having been cancelled a week ago amid safety fears. |
| Pictures published by Xinhua, the official news agency, and on social media outlets showed several people lying on the floor with rescuers attempting to revive the injured while police tried to restore order. | Pictures published by Xinhua, the official news agency, and on social media outlets showed several people lying on the floor with rescuers attempting to revive the injured while police tried to restore order. |
| It was unclear what had caused people to stampede in Chen Yi Square and the Chinese authorities have launched an investigation. Trouble is believed to have broken out about half an hour before midnight. | It was unclear what had caused people to stampede in Chen Yi Square and the Chinese authorities have launched an investigation. Trouble is believed to have broken out about half an hour before midnight. |
| The stampede appeared to have taken place close to the area where, according to the Shanghai Daily, a “toned-down” version of the New Year laser display was to have taken place. The show was intended to be for invited guests only rather than for the general public. | The stampede appeared to have taken place close to the area where, according to the Shanghai Daily, a “toned-down” version of the New Year laser display was to have taken place. The show was intended to be for invited guests only rather than for the general public. |
| Organised New Year celebrations have been taking place in the Bund area for the past three years and in 2013 they attracted almost 300,000 people. | Organised New Year celebrations have been taking place in the Bund area for the past three years and in 2013 they attracted almost 300,000 people. |
| Concerns about the size of the crowds and doubts that police could guarantee their safety led to the authorities cancelling this year’s official public display but thousands of revellers still headed there to celebrate the New Year. | Concerns about the size of the crowds and doubts that police could guarantee their safety led to the authorities cancelling this year’s official public display but thousands of revellers still headed there to celebrate the New Year. |
| Angry family members clash with security personnel at a hospital in Shanghai where some of the victims were sent (Getty) Shanghai's historic Bund riverfront, one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city, runs along an area of often narrow streets amid restored old buildings, shops and other attractions. It runs along the bank of the Huangpu River. The China Daily newspaper in February reported that the city's population was more than 24 million at the end of 2013. | |
| Among the concerns that led to the cancellation of the big public laser display were the number of people crammed into a small area and the difficulties in dispersing them. The laser display was to have been beamed on to the walls of historic buildings for about ten minutes before culminating with midnight fireworks. | Among the concerns that led to the cancellation of the big public laser display were the number of people crammed into a small area and the difficulties in dispersing them. The laser display was to have been beamed on to the walls of historic buildings for about ten minutes before culminating with midnight fireworks. |
| In its first year the display attracted an estimated 100,000 people but this had tripled by last year, with people crowding in hours before the show started. There were complaints that afterwards it took hours to get people out of the Bund, putting enormous pressure on public transport and leading to taxis hiking fares five-fold. | In its first year the display attracted an estimated 100,000 people but this had tripled by last year, with people crowding in hours before the show started. There were complaints that afterwards it took hours to get people out of the Bund, putting enormous pressure on public transport and leading to taxis hiking fares five-fold. |
| The tragedy unfolded as Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a New Year address in which he vowed to continue reforms while maintaining the “rule of law”. He compared the twin aims to “a bird's two wings”. | The tragedy unfolded as Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a New Year address in which he vowed to continue reforms while maintaining the “rule of law”. He compared the twin aims to “a bird's two wings”. |
| He said there was “no turning back” from the path of reform but said it would only be achieved alongside strong laws designed to protect people's rights and interests, and social justice. By 2020, he said, the policies would ensure China has an “all-round well-off society”. | He said there was “no turning back” from the path of reform but said it would only be achieved alongside strong laws designed to protect people's rights and interests, and social justice. By 2020, he said, the policies would ensure China has an “all-round well-off society”. |