Documents seized in Love Parade crush probe

German prosecutors investigating the Love Parade stampede that killed 19 people in Duisburg have seized the event organisers' documents.

The number injured in Saturday's disaster was put at 511 on Monday. None of the injuries were life-threatening.

It is still not clear how many people were at the scene when the crush happened, outside a tunnel at the entrance to the techno music festival.

Survivors said the site was too small for the vast crowds of music fans.

The 19 who died - 11 men and eight women - have been identified.

Eleven of the victims were German and the other eight came from Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, China, Bosnia and Spain. They ranged in age from 20 to 40.

Duisburg is planning a service of remembrance for them and a book of condolence has been opened.

Investigators are examining the security plans for the event, which could possibly lead to charges of negligent homicide.

No blame yet

The organiser of the festival has said there will be no more Love Parades.

Duisburg Mayor Adolf Sauerland said that although the question of why the disaster had happened was "absolutely justified and must be answered", he insisted that until the investigation was complete, any apportioning of guilt would be "out of order".

The BBC Berlin correspondent Tristana Moore says critics argued that the organisers and police were not prepared for such huge numbers of visitors and the site itself - an old railway yard - was too small and completely unsuitable.

German media said the festival had drawn about 1.4 million people.

However, the number has been contested. A local official in charge of the emergency response, Wolfgang Rabe, said the site "can hold 300,000 people and it was at no time full".

Police said that no-one had died inside the tunnel.

Deputy police chief Detlef von Schmeling said: "Fourteen people died on the metal steps leading away from the tunnel, two on a wall outside the tunnel."

Police had reportedly closed the exit to the tunnel and were telling those trying to get in to turn around when panic broke out, although the exact circumstances of the stampede are still not clear.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel demanded an "intensive" investigation, saying she was "appalled" by the tragedy.

Festival organiser Rainer Schaller appeared with officials at a news conference in Duisburg on Sunday.

He said: "The Love Parade has always been a joyful and peaceful party, but in future would always be overshadowed by yesterday's events.

"Out of respect for the victims, their families and friends, we are going to discontinue the event in the future, and that means the end of the Love Parade."