Arrests At Two Aussie EDM Festivals

The festival had sold out its 18,000 tickets at HBF Arena, with a bill that included Sydney trio Rufus, New York’s A$AP Ferg, Texas rapper Travis Scott, Germany DJ Claptone, New Guinea-born Ngaiire, multi-instrumentalist Tash Sultana, Swedish rapper Yung Lean and Perth act Tobacco Rat.

About 300 without tickets tried to scramble over the inner security fence and pelted audience members with rocks, according to Perth Now.

Twenty police officers arrived with dogs and some on horseback. Four people in their early 20s were arrested for assaulting three police officers after throwing objects at them as they tried to calm the crowd, and one officer was bitten. On Sept. 17, the Sydney version of the international EDM festival brand Defqon.1 took place.

Out of a crowd of 25,000, there were 77 drug arrests, with six charged with supplying a prohibited drug, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

More than 200 needed treatment for drug- and heat-related issues with six hospitalised for further treatment. In addition, 80 were charged with drunken driving and 44 driving while under the influence of drugs. Police presence was high at the Sydney International Rowing Centre in the western suburb of Penrith. In the last three years, two attendees died during the festival.