Up to 30,000 expected at French military site for illegal rave despite unexploded mortar risk

Roughly 20,000 partygoers gathered on Saturday for an illegal rave at a military site in France, defying warnings about the risk of unexploded ordnance and possible blasts. The rave near the town of Bourges in central France kicked off on Friday. Organisers expect up to 30,000 people from France and neighbouring countries to arrive at the peak of the event this weekend. "Despite its illegal nature, the government has mobilised to ensure the safety of this event and limit any disturbances, particularly for nearby residents," the prefecture said in a statement. Philippe Le Moing Surzur, the top regional official, said the site was "extremely dangerous due to the unexploded ordnance it may contain." While modern shells posed no threat, he warned of the risk from older unexploded ordnance and urged revellers to avoid the nearby woods. "This is a site that has been in use for 150 years, and we know there are potentially old artillery shells there," he said, adding that bomb disposal experts discover them regularly. Read moreKanye West pulls plug on Marseille concert, postpones until further notice Revellers see the giant party not only as a chance to unwind, but also as a protest against tighter legislation