The Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival (ESAF) in Mollis has been marred by incidents involving drunken fans, prompting the Glarus cantonal police to respond to around 80 call-outs by Sunday morning. The majority of these incidents involved assisting intoxicated wrestling fans who had sustained minor injuries or were causing a disturbance. Additionally, there were a few cases of theft reported on the festival grounds.
Despite the large attendance of at least 200,000 people, the police spokesperson noted that the situation was still within the expected range. However, a fatal accident occurred on Friday evening when a 33-year-old man was hit by a train on the railroad tracks near the festival campsite. The authorities are investigating why the man left the official footpath and accessed the tracks, which are surrounded by 2-meter high fences.
In response to the incident, additional security personnel were deployed near the tracks. The police are working with a large contingent, supported by the East Pole Concordat, which involves police forces from Schaffhausen to Graubünden. During the 80 police operations since Thursday afternoon, around a dozen missing persons were searched for and found.
The police are cautious about the potential for further incidents, particularly with Sunday’s bright sunshine and alcohol consumption. The spokesperson emphasized that they are monitoring the situation closely. A final assessment of the festival’s security situation will be made on Monday morning, after the weekend’s events have concluded. Overall, while the festival has seen some incidents, the police are working to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for attendees.