A nightmare of a scene on Friday at a disco in Nueva Aztacoalco, a tough barrio in the sprawling north of Mexico City. During a tardeada, or an afternoon party common for teens just finishing the spring semester, nine young people and three police officers were asphyxiated or crushed in a moment of confusion and panic when the police attempted to raid the News Divine club for suspicions of under-age drinking and drug-use. Hundreds of clubgoers tried rushing out through a single entryway. The other exit had been blocked by cases of beers, reports said.
On Saturday, El Universal asked bluntly, "Who killed 12 people?" Here are the names of the dead; they include a 20-year-old female police officer and 13-year-old girl.
The paper's online radio edition has this first-person audio account from the scene. The reporter notes that when she entered the club after it had been emptied, it was still unbearably hot inside. The owner of the club was detained by the authorities. And the D.F. attorney general has opened an investigation on the tactics used by police before the stampede at the News Divine. Mayor Marcelo Ebrard suspended the officials involved in the incident.
* Two young victims: The image above is from Las Noticias Mexico.
** SPECIAL NOTE: No updates on this post. I will be out of the city and away from regular Internet service for two weeks. A few forthcoming posts will be published on a pre-set schedule until July 4.