Major music festivals to install metal detectors

Visitors to Belgium’s major summer music festivals will have to pass through metal detectors before entering the site. The new rule affects Rock Werchter, Graspop Metal Meeting, Dour Festival, Tomorrowland and Pukkelpop (pictured). The scanners are due to be inaugurated at AC/DC’s appearance at Werchter on Monday.

The metal detectors are being introduced as a reaction to the level 3 terror threat in place following the attacks of 22 March. The festivals’ organisers will share the investment. A ban on backpacks had been considered but was thought impractical. Bags will, however, be checked.

“The safety of concert- and festival-goers, artists, staff and local residents is our highest priority,” said one of the organisers, Live Nation, in a statement. “But the tighter controls will not be allowed to spoil the fun.”

Police and private security will be present in greater numbers, the company said. Holders of tickets for the events will be informed by email of any changes to security policy, and full details can be obtained from livenation.be, rockwerchter.be and twclassic.be.

Photo: Yorick Jansens/Belga