Massive crowd gathers in Zagreb for Thompson concert

The largest musical event in Croatian history is taking place tonight at the Zagreb Hippodrome. 

Half a million people are expected for the Marko Perković Thompson concert. Tens of thousands of fans arrived early for the event and tens of thousands have been arriving throughout the day. Extra train and bus lines were added to accommodate the influx of people. 

Doors to the pre-event area - the so-called Fun Zone - at Bundek Lake opened at 10 am. Fans were encouraged to arrive hours earlier to prevent bottlenecks in the area around the Hippodrome and its entrances, where there will be extensive security checks. 

Traffic closed on the south side of the city and the main arteries leading to the venue. However, car traffic in the rest of the city is relatively quiet. Massive traffic jams on roads to and from the capital that many had worried about did not materialize, with no issues reported throughout the morning and afternoon.

Concert goers seem to have taken the advice of authorities to walk instead of drive. Rivers of pedestrians could be seen heading across Freedom Bridge towards the Hippodrome for hours this afternoon.

The concert is expected to begin at around nine tonight and run until midnight. Fans are arriving from all over Croatia - and from abroad - many wearing Thompson's signature black T-shirts, often printed with his image or lyrics. Some are also dressed in red-and-white checkered jerseys and carrying Croatian flags.

At the entrance to the Hippodrome, concertgoers must pass through security checks. No food or drinks are allowed - except for water - and bags or backpacks are prohibited.

Emergency teams are stationed in and around the venue. Hospitals across the capital have extra staff on standby, and a field hospital with 400 stretchers has been set up next to the Hippodrome to treat minor medical issues such as dehydration or allergic reactions.

Authorities say this is the most challenging security operation in the country's history. Damir Barić, Deputy Director General of Police and head of the concert security task force, says around sixty-five hundred police officers, nearly five thousand security guards, and seventy firefighters are on duty tonight. Drones and security cameras will monitor the crowd and surrounding areas.

At a press conference at 4 pm, Barić said police had detained five people so far.

"In terms of public order, five people have been detained. One person was picked up for disturbing the peace, while four people were cited for illegal possession of pyrotechnics," said Barić.

Police have confiscated twenty-three hand-held flares and say stopping pyrotechnics at security checks is one of their biggest challenges. Barić and event organizers warn that flares, smoke bombs, and similar devices pose a serious risk to public safety, especially in large crowds.

So far, there have been four medical emergencies - mostly dehydration and minor ailments. One person was caught trying to fly a drone over the venue - something strictly forbidden and punishable by a fine ranging from six hundred seventy to twenty thousand euros.