Corinaldo
The Corinaldo massacre
On December 8, 2018, at the "Lanterna Azzurra" nightclub in Corinaldo, province of Ancona, a crowd of people waiting for a concert by rapper Sfera Ebbasta was overwhelmed by panic and confusion, causing them to fall from a bridge and resulting in the death of 6 people, as well as dozens of injured. It was all caused by the uncontrollable flee of people following the use of pepper spray by some individuals.
The investigations
Immediately after the tragedy, investigations sought to determine the cause of the incident, revealing the immediate presence of pepper spray. Initially considered guilty, a 16-year-old boy was arrested and then released for lack of evidence. Subsequently, 17 other people were investigated, including the owners and managers of the club and even the mayor and municipal technicians who had granted permits for the club.
The trial
On August 2, 2019, seven people accused of manslaughter, assault, and membership in a criminal organization were arrested. Six of these people were convicted on July 30, 2020. They were found guilty of all charges except membership in a criminal organization. The seventh person pleaded guilty to a sentence of 4 years and 2 months in prison. On December 6, 2019, the Ancona Public Prosecutor's Office submitted a request for immediate judgment to the judges for the six young people, identifying elements of responsibility in the development of the tragic event.
Comment
The tragedy of the Corinaldo massacre has caused great disruption and emotional distress in Italy. The fact that most of the victims were very young has made the incident even more painful and has drawn attention to the importance of safety in places of entertainment and the risks associated with organizing large events that attract many people. In addition, the incident has also raised issues of public order and control in concert venues and events, as well as highlighting the need to further investigate the issue of illegal sales of substances that endanger people's health.
