Hundreds gatecrashed Madrid rave where three died in stampede

Hundreds of youngsters jumped the turnstiles and gatecrashed the Halloween party in Madrid where three teenagers died in a stampede early Thursday, according to footage viewed by police investigators.

Two other young women remain in hospital, one in very critical condition. Madrid authorities decreed a day of mourning on Friday as a show of support for the families of the three 18-to-20-year-olds who were crushed to death in the melee.

Organizers of the massive party have denied that the event was oversold or that the venue, Madrid Arena, was filled beyond its maximum capacity of 10,600.

Investigators have concluded that the tragedy was the result of three simultaneous factors: a flow of people moving in that met with a flow of people moving out inside a narrow central passage; hundreds of party crashers entering the premises out of control, and a firecracker that went off in the middle of the multitude, setting off a human stampede down the corridor. Police are looking for the person who threw the flare.

Testimonies gathered by the police and surveillance footage evidence that many people had fake tickets to the party, while others simply jumped the turnstiles due to a lack of control at the entrance gate around three in the morning —- just when the star of the night, DJ Steve Aoki, was due to begin his electro-house performance. There were also underage attendees.

Two friends of the sister of Katia Esteban Casielles, one of the three dead youngsters, have started a petition to get partygoers to send in their ticket stubs in order to prove that "there were more people in there than was allowed." In a video recorded that night, DJ Steve Aoki proclaimed before his audience: "Can you believe there are 15,000 of us in here?"

Madrid Mayor Ana Botella called a press conference on Friday evening to announce that "never again" will the city rent out municipal facilities for huge parties.

Police scan videos to locate person who threw flare

"The risk is too high when you bring together too many people and too much alcohol," Botella said, adding that "we've seen this too often in too many parts of the world."

Police continue to analyze the content of 90 security cameras that recorded 15 hours of footage each. One of the goals is to identify the individual who threw the firecracker, and who could face three counts of involuntary manslaughter and two of attempted manslaughter, which carry a prison sentence of around 15 years.

Regarding attendance at the event, law enforcement officials said that it is impossible for 10,600 people — the maximum number allowed in the 30,000 square foot arena — to all fit inside the central ring at the same time. Deputy Mayor Miguel Ángel Villanueva said that emergency exits were working correctly and that Diviertt, the event organizer, had all the necessary permits. There were 113 security guards from two companies hired out for the party.

Diviertt is owned by Miguel Ángel Flores, a well-known impresario in Madrid's nightlife sector who owns several clubs, including Macumba.