Eight arrested after clashes in Republic Square during tribute to El Indio Solari
A farewell flag-waving ceremony for El Indio Solari in Republic Square ended with running clashes, bottle-throwing and tear gas. Eight people were arrested and two police officers were injured.
Eight arrested after clashes in Republic Square during tribute to El Indio Solari
A gathering of fans of Carlos Alberto "El Indio" Solari in the vicinity of the Obelisk led to clashes with security forces on Saturday night. An attempt to clear informal street vendors from Republic Square provoked running confrontations, the hurling of bottles and the use of chemical agents, resulting in eight people arrested and two uniformed officers injured.
According to reporting by LM Neuquén, approximately fifty people had gathered to hold a flag-waving ceremony in memory of the artist. Tension began when City Police officers initiated the removal of vendors offering alcoholic beverages in the area.
A statement from the Buenos Aires security system indicated that from 17:00 hours the presence of street sellers with coolers filled with spirits had been noted. At the moment agents seized the products, several attendees threw stones and bottles at them. As a result, two members of the force were injured and eight protesters were taken to the police station.
City authorities warned that they would not tolerate "illegal sales or episodes of violence that disturb public order". However, a woman who witnessed the events told TN that chaos erupted when police officers took a beer from a girl and hit her, which sparked the reaction against the vendors.
The security forces cordoned off the square to prevent attendees from re-entering. Shortly after, the situation calmed down. Simultaneously, a crowd gathered at the José María Gatica Sports Complex in Villa Domínico, where the wake for El Indio Solari is being held this Sunday.
Source: Google News AR — Buenos Aires