Transcript for Mother trampled to death before concert in Italy
to the event. ABC’s Julia Mac far lane as more from London. Julia, good morning. Reporter: Good morning. This was supposed to be a happy night. Teens and parents were there to see a performance by an Italian rapper. Instead, it ended in tragedy. It’s chaos as a structure gives way. At an Italian club. A walkway falling, crushing some below to death. Police chiefs are studying the footage, and say following the collapse, six people, mostly minors, are confirmed dead. Dozens of others injured. One witness telling of people below grabbing at his ankles and begging for help. Another one discusses seeing children under white sheets following unsuccessful efforts to save them. And now, investigators are looking into what caused the stampede. Police are investigating claims that an irritant spray like pepper spray was released in the venue, causing the rush to exit. A patron recounting everyone’s efforts to breathe. Coughing off the — after the venue was filled with the spray. Investigators are looking into whether the venue was overcrowded. This witness describes people trampling over each other. Around 140 tickets were sold for the event. Nearly twice the venue’s legal capacity. This, similar to an incident in the United States in 2003. 21 people were killed in a stampede inside a Chicago nightclub when someone released pepper spray to break up a fight. There are two criminal investigations. One, the suspected use of the irritant spray causing a panic. The other looking into what regulations may have been violated. Thank you, Julia. A lot of questions there. Let’s check back in with rob in North Carolina
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