Madrid Chief of Police charged in Arena case

MADRID’S Chief of Police, Emilio Monteagudo, has resigned after being charged along with 15 others in connection to the Madrid Arena stampede.

Monteagudo is accused of being responsible for the deaths of five youths during the stampede which occurred at the Arena during a Halloween concert held on November 1, 2012. The event’s organiser, together with 14 others, is also being prosecuted.

Fourteen of the accused, including Inspector Monteagudo, are charged with five counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of causing injury. Two doctors working at the event, Simón and Carlos Viñals, have been charged on three counts of manslaughter due to serious professional negligence in connection to the deaths of Rocío Oña, Cristina Arce and Katia Esteban.

Accusations against eight other people including the Director General of Emergencies and Civil Protection, Alfonso del Alamo, have been retracted.

With this order, Judge Palop has brought investigation opened on the morning of November 1, 2012 to an end. The deaths of the five girls were caused by a stampede which happened in one of the hallways leading out of the arena in Madrid.

It has been determined that the arena was at three times its official capacity, with up to 22,000 people attending the concert.