Brazil 231 deaths: Police arrests Nightclub owner, band members
Brazilian Police has arrested two members of a band that used ill-fated pyrotechnics during a performance at a student nightclub where 231 people died in a fire.
The band, called Gurizada Fandangueira, was performing at the overcrowded Kiss club when the fire started early on Sunday morning in the southern city of Santa Maria.
The band, called Gurizada Fandangueira, was performing at the overcrowded Kiss club when the fire started early on Sunday morning in the southern city of Santa Maria.
The nightclub's co-owner, Elissandro Spohr, was also detained by police over the blaze, Ms Sphor's lawyer told local media. Police have also issued an arrest warrant for another owner of the club.
Inspector Ranolfo Vieira Junior said the arrests were for investigative purposes and that the trio can be held for up to five days.
Police said they think the pyrotechnics used by the band ignited sound insulation on the ceiling, and witnesses said a flare or firework lit by the musicians started the blaze.
In comments to the media, a band member has denied responsibility, while the club insisted in a statement that everything had been in order at the venue.
Police said they think the pyrotechnics used by the band ignited sound insulation on the ceiling, and witnesses said a flare or firework lit by the musicians started the blaze.
In comments to the media, a band member has denied responsibility, while the club insisted in a statement that everything had been in order at the venue.
One member of the band, the accordion player Danilo Jacques, 28, was among the dead. Mr Jacques had escaped the burning building, but he died when returned inside to save his accordion. The five other members of the band made it out safely.
The band's guitarist Rodrigo Martins said: "[The fire] might have happened because of the Sputnik, the machine we use to create a luminous effect with sparks. It's harmless, we never had any trouble with it.
"When the fire started, a guard passed us a fire extinguisher, the singer tried to use it but it wasn't working." Martins said the musicians were already receiving hostile messages.
"People on the social networks are saying we have to pay for what happened," he said. "I'm afraid there could be retaliation."
"People on the social networks are saying we have to pay for what happened," he said. "I'm afraid there could be retaliation."
Santa Maria is a university town and many of the 231 people who died and 117 injured were under 20 years old.
No comments:
Post a Comment