168 fans arrested at Metallica concert

168 people were arrested at a Metallica concert in Colombia last night (Thursday, March 11).

Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse hundreds of gig goers in the country’s capital, Bogota, after a riot broke out as they tried to get into the sold out concert without tickets.

The city’s authorities deployed approximately 1,500 police officers and four tanks to bring the mob under control during the 45-minute riot. Eight people were reportedly hospitalised with injuries ranging from stab wounds to broken limbs.

Bogota’s police chief, Ruben Castillo, called the rioters “misfits”.

This is the second time a riot has broken out in the Bogota during a concert - fellow heavy metal legends, Iron Maiden, found themselves in the middle of a riot in the Colombian capital a year ago (March 7, 2009). 111 people were arrested during that incident and a police officer was left in need of facial reconstructive surgery.

Tags: Iron Maiden, Metallica

Posted by Dan at 09:12AM | March 12, 2010

This is the people who ruin the Metal name and its just sickening its all fun n games in the pit till someone starts to use it as a method of trying to seriously injure someone for the hell of it but they have tried to clamp down on that kind of behaviour and clearly its spreading out.. If you can't get in try next time or sit outside if its an areana and at least listen if you want don't resort to violence its just useless

Posted by Scott | March 17, 2010 7:54 AM | Reply to this

Why do people start riots like that? I feel sorry for metallica tbh because it must be bad thinking people would do stuff like that.. if they wanted tickets why not go buy them BEFORE they old out?.. sad

Posted by Jessii-San | March 18, 2010 10:33 PM | Reply to this

I was at the Maiden show in Columbia and there was no bother what so ever! The trouble is from the police and army outside. They are a trigger happy, crooked and currupt police force. Half way through the Maiden gig I got a face full of tear gas from outside. It is like burning electrical wires and is the worst smell ever! It isn't the fans who are the problem!

Posted by Dr Snapper | April 13, 2010 6:52 PM | Reply to this