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Raging tent fires at Reading Festival spark horror scenes as campers flee in terror
Anti social behaviour was apparently rife at the festival, with reports of looting, fighting and even tents being set alight, to the chagrin of level-headed attendees who left early as a result
There was reportedly gridlock in the carpark at Reading Festival as attendees scrambled to leave early after incidents of tent-burning and other antisocial behaviour erupted on the last night of the event.
The first Reading & Leeds weekender since Covid lockdown was scrapped included acts like Arctic Monkeys, Megan Thee Stallion, Dave and Bring Me The Horizon.
Festival goers seemed in jovial spirits all weekend until about 4pm Sunday, according to witnesses, who claimed that the mood changed and fighting, fires and looting started to happen.
Footage shared online shows young men appear to fuel fires by chucking tents and other materials into the flames, while others egg them on.
And some attendees have complained that they had seen enough and left for their own safety, with security presence in the area suggested to be limited.
Amber Vellacott, 26, said she and her boyfriend decided to head to their car at around 7pm on Sunday as they feared the violence would continue to escalate.
She told the Mirror: "We saw fires start at about 4pm in various camps, the crews & security were fast on them, but all the kids were surrounding and egging it on, throwing rubbish & cans into them.
"We felt the whole vibe of the campsites change, and when we saw people start picking up tents and rubbish, throwing them into the trees & across the camps, we thought it was best to pack up and head out - annoyingly so!
"But it just didn’t feel safe for two grown adults, let alone all the kids there. When we left at about 7pm, there was a fair bit of security but not masses. More volunteers who dare not get involved - and I can’t blame them."
The marketing manager added that it was evident the disorder "would get worse" once headline act The 1975 had finished their set.
Witnesses writing on social media said they had also seen people set fire to tents deliberately while others stood by or encouraged the participants.
Fighting among festival goers and looting from tents was also said to have taken place.
"Be safe and TAKE YOUR TENTS HOME," a message said on the festival's official Twitter account early this morning, with many people replying with evidence of fires.
"Probably won’t bother taking mine," replied one young woman, showing a video of the scorched remains of her tent.
One disgruntled man replied: "You're going to do well not to have deaths on your hands tomorrow morning. Sort it out."
Another person, who went to the Saturday festivities, said they would think twice about returning and would "much rather go to a festival with a competent security team."
"I can't get my head around how there's no security and there's so many fires," said another woman in response to a slew of videos with fires raging but no security in sight.
Complaints mounted and one man who saw a fire beside his tent said that he and his mate "packed up the tents and got out" immediately.
One mum said her daughter was hospitalised when an "aerosol exploded hitting her on her legs, face and hands."
The irked mum continued: "Waiting to hear update on how she is. Vile behaviour. Paramedics and police were amazing according to her. What is wrong with some people."
Daily Star Sunday
Anti social behaviour was apparently rife at the festival, with reports of looting, fighting and even tents being set alight, to the chagrin of level-headed attendees who left early as a result
There was reportedly gridlock in the carpark at Reading Festival as attendees scrambled to leave early after incidents of tent-burning and other antisocial behaviour erupted on the last night of the event.
The first Reading & Leeds weekender since Covid lockdown was scrapped included acts like Arctic Monkeys, Megan Thee Stallion, Dave and Bring Me The Horizon.
Festival goers seemed in jovial spirits all weekend until about 4pm Sunday, according to witnesses, who claimed that the mood changed and fighting, fires and looting started to happen.
Footage shared online shows young men appear to fuel fires by chucking tents and other materials into the flames, while others egg them on.
And some attendees have complained that they had seen enough and left for their own safety, with security presence in the area suggested to be limited.
Amber Vellacott, 26, said she and her boyfriend decided to head to their car at around 7pm on Sunday as they feared the violence would continue to escalate.
She told the Mirror: "We saw fires start at about 4pm in various camps, the crews & security were fast on them, but all the kids were surrounding and egging it on, throwing rubbish & cans into them.
"We felt the whole vibe of the campsites change, and when we saw people start picking up tents and rubbish, throwing them into the trees & across the camps, we thought it was best to pack up and head out - annoyingly so!
"But it just didn’t feel safe for two grown adults, let alone all the kids there. When we left at about 7pm, there was a fair bit of security but not masses. More volunteers who dare not get involved - and I can’t blame them."
The marketing manager added that it was evident the disorder "would get worse" once headline act The 1975 had finished their set.
Witnesses writing on social media said they had also seen people set fire to tents deliberately while others stood by or encouraged the participants.
Fighting among festival goers and looting from tents was also said to have taken place.
"Be safe and TAKE YOUR TENTS HOME," a message said on the festival's official Twitter account early this morning, with many people replying with evidence of fires.
"Probably won’t bother taking mine," replied one young woman, showing a video of the scorched remains of her tent.
One disgruntled man replied: "You're going to do well not to have deaths on your hands tomorrow morning. Sort it out."
Another person, who went to the Saturday festivities, said they would think twice about returning and would "much rather go to a festival with a competent security team."
"I can't get my head around how there's no security and there's so many fires," said another woman in response to a slew of videos with fires raging but no security in sight.
Complaints mounted and one man who saw a fire beside his tent said that he and his mate "packed up the tents and got out" immediately.
One mum said her daughter was hospitalised when an "aerosol exploded hitting her on her legs, face and hands."
The irked mum continued: "Waiting to hear update on how she is. Vile behaviour. Paramedics and police were amazing according to her. What is wrong with some people."
Daily Star Sunday