Leganés mayor wants to stop massive New Year’s party

Saying that their hands are tied, officials in the Madrid dormitory town of Leganés acknowledged Friday that they cannot cancel the macro-party planned for New Year’s Eve at its La Cubierta bullring.

“We will look at all possible avenues so that the macro-party is not held and if it is, we will take all the security precautions necessary to ensure nothing happens,” said Leganés Mayor Jesús Gómez during a news conference on Friday.

Fears that another tragedy similar to the Halloween party at Madrid Arena, which ended in the deaths of five girls after they were crushed to death, have surfaced after it was discovered that the same concert promoter, Miguel Ángel Flores, is organizing the event. Originally planned to be held at Madrid Arena, the so-called Space Fest 2013 was moved to the Leganés bullring after officials closed the original venue following the tragedy.

Flores, who is under investigation on possible negligent homicide charges, and his Diviertt firm rented La Cubierta, which by law was given a 75-year public concession license 14 years ago.

“This took us by surprise. It is a decision that I am totally against and has made me very unhappy,” the mayor said.