Press Releases
12 Dead after Mexico City nightclub raid
Nine teenagers and three police officers are dead after police raided the News Divine nightclub in Mexico City as students celebrated the end of the school year. The victims were all crushed in a stampede. Police Chief Joel Ortega said three police officers and nine clubbers, at least three of them minors, were killed during the raid today and at least 13 others were injured. Police went to the club in the working class district of Nueva Atzacoalco in the early evening to check reports of drugs and alcohol being sold to minors. Ortega told the Televisa network, the club's owner announced to the crowd that the officers were there to arrest them, causing a stampede. He denied earlier media reports that officers threw tear gas inside the club, and also said no shots were fired. At a later news conference, Ortega said about 500 young people - more than the club's capacity - were there to celebrate the end of the school year and many more were waiting in line to get in. Clubs in Mexico often host afternoon "tardeada" parties for clubbers as young as 16, although only patrons aged 18 and over are allowed to drink alcohol.
ILMC news 23rd June 2008 www.ilmc.com
