Organizers Announce Attendance Exceeds 500,000 at Thompson’s Concert in Zagreb
Thompson performing at tonight’s concert in Zagreb, Photo: Reuters
The concert by Marko Perković Thompson, noted as the largest concert in Croatian history, is occurring at the Zagreb Hippodrome.
As per reports from Croatian media, over half a million attendees are at the event.
Organizers informed HRT that a total of 504,000 people gathered at the Hippodrome.
Thompson kicked off the concert at 9 PM with the song “Rise from the Shadows.”
“Praise be to Jesus and Mary, my dear people. I’m deeply grateful to you all for coming in such large numbers,” stated Thompson.
He highlighted that attendees came not just from Croatian territories but from various European nations as well.
“With this concert, we’ll demonstrate great unity. I urge all of Europe to return to its traditions and Christian roots. Only through this can Croatia regain its strength,” he added.
He stressed the importance of honoring “the heroes who founded our homeland.”
“Let us not celebrate ourselves above our shared achievements, but instead thank God for uniting us here,” Thompson remarked.
On the day leading to the concert, law enforcement apprehended 44 individuals, with 16 requiring medical assistance.
One person was arrested for public disorder, while 43 others were detained for using pyrotechnics.
Marko Perković has faced performance bans in several countries due to his alleged support for the Ustasha regime during World War II.
His concerts often showcase Ustasha symbols, and he begins one of his hit songs with a fascist slogan associated with the regime allied to Nazism.
Prior to the event, it was revealed that over 450,000 tickets were sold.
The majority of ticket sales occurred in Croatia, amounting to around 350,000, with significant purchases in Germany (approximately 22,000), Austria (around 18,000), and Bosnia and Herzegovina (about 10,000).
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