As lockdown eases, illegal raves take off across Europe

Peple gather at an illegal rave in Streatham, London, Britain, June 25, 2020 in this still image taken from a video obtained on social media. Picture taken June 25, 2020. TWITTER/@GORAN71913876/via REUTERS

LONDON/LISBON (Reuters) - From the housing blocks of London to the beaches of Portugal, thousands of young people are holding illegal raves and parties across Europe, yearning for contact and bursting with energy after the solitude of the coronavirus lockdown.

While many revellers are simply seeking some fun after months of bans on festivals, clubbing and parties, such mass gatherings have added to fears that a second deadly wave of infections could sweep across Europe.