POLICE issued a warning about triple strength “Donald Trump” ecstasy pills at Leeds Festival the day before a 17-year-old girl died of a suspected overdose. The girl, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, died shortly after 3.40am this morning. A 17-year-old boy who is also from Oldham has been arrested on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs and […]
POLICE issued a warning about triple strength “Donald Trump” ecstasy pills at Leeds Festival the day before a 17-year-old girl died of a suspected overdose.
The girl, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, died shortly after 3.40am this morning.
A 17-year-old boy who is also from Oldham has been arrested on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs and remains in custody.
West Yorkshire Police had previously issued a warning to festival goers about potentially lethal high-strength ecstasy pills that had been found on the site.
Officers had found pills called Trumps, which are in the shape of the US president’s face, as well as so-called Donkey Kongs and Skypes containing around three times the average dose of MDMA.
The force tweeted the message: “They have been found in circulation onsite.
“These are very dangerous, high strength pills, up to three times the normal average adult dose.”
Commenting on the death, Leeds Festival’s Police Commander, Superintendent Matt Davison, said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the girl who has died.
“We have family liaison officers in place supporting them and they have asked that their privacy is respected at this extremely difficult time.
“While the exact cause of her death is yet to be established, the information we have indicates that she has taken a combination of drugs.
“This is a tragic incident and I hope serves as a timely reminder to others of the risk of taking illegal substances, particularly when mixing different types of drugs and drinking alcohol.
“If anyone has any concerns for either themselves or others at the festival, I would urge them to contact staff on-site or seek urgent medical assistance.”
Melvin Benn, of organisers Festival Republic, said: “To say we are deeply saddened about this tragedy is an understatement.
“West Yorkshire Police have taken action against those that may have supplied the drugs, and we will continue to work with them as usual.
“I would like to take this opportunity to remind anyone attending Reading and Leeds Festival that there is no safe way to take prohibited drugs and there are no safe prohibited drugs.”
There have now been 12 fatalities at British music festivals in the last two years.
There were 2,917 deaths related to drug misuse in England and Wales in 2018 and 92 deaths caused by MDMA poisoning, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics this week.
Lewis Haunch, 17, collapsed and died after taking ecstasy at the Leeds Festival three years ago.
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