Mumford and Sons have expressed their dismay after learning that fans were raped at the Swedish festival the band headlined at the weekend.
Five women were reportedly raped and 12 others suffered sexual assaults at Bravalla festival in Norkopping.
Mumford And Sons were on the bill with The 1975, Wiz Khalifa, Rammstein, Biffy Clyro, Bastille, Band Of Horses, Tenacious D, Editors and Action Bronson.
In a statement posted this morning on Facebook, Mumford And Sons vowed they would never play at Bravalla again until security had improved at the festival.
The band said: “We’re appalled to hear what happened at Bravalla. Festivals are a celebration of music and people, a place to let go and feel safe doing so. We’re gutted by these hideous reports. We won’t play at this festival again until we’ve had assurances from the police and organisers that they’re doing something to combat what appears to be a disgustingly high rate of reported sexual violence.”
Bravalla was one of two festivals in Sweden which endured a high number of sexual assault last weekend. Free festival Pukke I Parten in Karlstad had 35 cases of groping and other sexual assault on girls as young as 12. Seven men are being sought in connection with the attacks.
Anti-rape charities in Sweden have accused festival organisers of not doing enough to protect festivalgoers. Anti-rape charity Nattskiftet spokeswoman Lisen Andreasson Florman told Swedish news agency TT: “Festival organisers must take this seriously. After quite some time, they’re on their way to understanding it. But very little is happening.”
Police spokesman Thomas Agnevik accepted security should be tightened, saying: “I can understand the criticism. As long as these serious crimes are happening, of course not enough has been done.”
Police had handed out anti-groping campaign bracelets in June at the start of Sweden’s festival season, aimed at raising awareness of the problem. The fact the bracelets were deemed necessary has highlighted the problem Swedish festivals have endured.