Bråvalla 2018 axed after repeat of sexual assaults

FKP Scorpio has cancelled the 2018 edition of its flagship Swedish festival after it was marred by reports of rape and sexual assault for the second year running

By Jon Chapple on 03 Jul 2017

Linkin Park play Bråvalla 2017 in Norrköping, Sweden

image © Oskar Omne Photography for Bråvalla

There will be no Bråvalla festival in 2018 following several incidences of sexual violence at this year’s event, promoter FKP Scorpio has announced.

Swedish police said on Saturday they had received reports of one rape and 11 sexual assaults at the Norrköping festival, which ran from Wednesday 28 June to Saturday 1 July. The rape occurred during a performance by Swedish artist Håkan Hellström on Friday night (30 July).

There were five reported rapes at Bråvalla last year, although two of the allegations were later withdrawn. Speaking to IQ at the time, FKP Scorpio CEO Folkert Koopmans said future festivals would have more security, lighting and CCTV cameras in a bid to prevent a repeat of the events of 2017.

In a statement, FKP says that, in light of the attacks, the decision has been taken to axe cancel year’s festival. “Words cannot describe how incredibly sad we are about [the assaults], and we most seriously regret and condemn them.

“This is not OK. We do not accept this at our festival”

“This is not OK. We do not accept this at our festival. Therefore, we have decided not to organise Bravålla in 2018.”

In a nod, perhaps, to its Wo geht’s nach Panama? initiative, FKP says it takes pride in encouraging visitors to report instances of sexual assault and “inviting our visitors to talk about it with us and each other”. However, it says, “some men” simply “cannot behave. It’s a shame.”

The company adds that it had done everything in its power to create a “safe festival experience” at Bråvalla 2017 – which was headlined by the likes of The Killers, Linkin Park, System of a Down, Prophets of Rage and The Chainsmokers – and that the festival had been “the best in many respects”, with a “great mood” and overall crime down.

“We will continue to work together for a better world,” concludes the FKP statement. “We hope you are with us. Let’s take care of each other, choke hatred and violence, and let the music prevail.”

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