“Desert Horror Music Festival” seemed like a typical festival experience until things quickly turned to panic. Goers were first alerted to danger when they heard rocket fire in the sky. This was shortly followed by militants from Gaza ripping into the venue with guns blazing and taking hostages.
The exact events that occurred remain unclear but eyewitness testify that it was chaotic. People were running in all directions assuming the festival had been attacked. But it quickly became apparent that the militants were only there to target those attending the event.
Those who weren’t taken hostage had to remain in protective hiding as the militants moved around the perimeter and took those they wanted. Witnesses reported seeing people shot and dragged away into waiting vehicles.
Some gatherers, in an effort to escape the militants, ran into the nearby desert and were found by security forces. Others who stayed hid in the festival grounds claim the militants went from tent to tent trying to locate people. They were probably looking for people with more money or those considered VIP.
It is unclear how many were taken and for what purpose. But what is known is that a few days after the attack, the hostages were freed and those taken prisoner were unharmed.
This incident has raised questions about the security of the festival grounds as militants were able to break in, take hostages and leave without being detected. In future, tighter security measures will have to be put in place to prevent further incidents like this from occurring.
This Desert Horror Music Festival attack is an awful reminder that even festivals and other events can easily be attacked, and all-too-frequently are. Unfortunately, it looks like this may be a new reality that those attending such events must live with.
