At least 17 people, including eight minors, were killed Saturday after a partygoer detonated a tear-gas canister setting off a stampede inside a nightclub in Caracas, Venezuela, authorities said.
Speaking to Venezuela’s state-run TV, Reverol said a brawl broke out early Saturday, and „one of the people involved detonated a tear-gas canister that caused the stampede.“
Reverol said seven people have been detained, including two minors. According to Reverol, eyewitnesses said one of those minors was responsible for setting off the tear-gas canister.
Officials are investigating and have ordered the club shut down. They also arrested the club owner over failure to have measures to ensure no weapons or ammunition entered the club, as required by law.
Reverol said that Venezuela’s government „deplores this unfortunate event“ and offered „words of condolences to the families of the victims.“
