Second Unexploded Shell Discovered at Unauthorized Rave on French Military Site Near Bourges

Bomb disposal experts intervened after a second unexploded shell was found at a French military site near Bourges, where thousands of revelers attended an illegal rave that began on Friday. The first unexploded shell was discovered on Saturday evening near a road running through the party site, prompting action from experts, according to local officials.

The second shell emerged later at the site in Cornusse, adding to safety concerns amid the unauthorized gathering.

Up to 40,000 people from France and neighboring countries gathered at the illegal free party, organizers said. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez estimated the turnout at 17,000 people. The event, known as a 'teknival' rave, defied warnings about the dangers of old ordnance dating back to World War II scattered across the military firing range.

On Sunday, May 3, 2026, Nuñez flew over the party site in a helicopter. He then met local residents near the site and greeted emergency medical service and civil protection members at an advanced medical post on the sidelines of the rave in Cornusse. Nuñez stated that the government would seek to crack down more effectively on illegal gatherings.

He said the defiance of the organizers strengthened his determination to ban such events, adding that attendees would be fined for entering a military site and for taking part in an illegal gathering. 'To ensure this doesn't happen again, sanctions must be toughened,' Nuñez said, speaking to reporters after his visit. He noted that 600 fines had already been issued related to the event.

Organizers chose 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, according to reports. In April 2026, French parliament's lower house approved a bill introducing penalties of up to six months in jail for anyone who plays a direct or indirect role in organizing or facilitating an unauthorized or banned rave party.

Participation in organizing such an event is defined broadly, extending as far as the dissemination of practical information.

Authorities logged 337 illegal music events in 2025, typically drawing around 300 attendees, with 4% attracting crowds of more than 1,000 people, Nuñez said. The illegal free party kicked off on Friday at the military firing range in central France. No major incidents were reported near Bourges during the event, despite the risks posed by the unexploded shells and the site's history.

The gathering persisted over the weekend, with revelers partying at the site that officials described as dangerous due to the potential for explosions from wartime remnants.