France's Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez greets emergency medical service and civil protection members as he visits an advanced medical post on the sidelines of a "teknival" rave party at a military site, in Cornusse, near Bourges in central France, Sunday, May 3, 2026. KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AP
France's interior minister vowed Sunday, May 3, a crackdown on illegal raves as he flew over a giant party at a military site that defied warnings about the risk of possible explosions. The unauthorized rave, known as a "free party," kicked off on Friday at a firing range near the central French town of Bourges.
Organizers said that up to 40,000 people from France and neighboring countries partied at the firing range, while Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez put the turnout at 17,000.
Officials said gathering at the military site was dangerous because of the risk of explosions from old ordnance dating back to World War II.
But organizers said they had chosen the firing range near Bourges – Nuñez's hometown – on purpose, to protest against proposed legislation aimed at toughening penalties against organizers of free parties and their participants.
