Gunpowder at Atanasio Girardot: Cup Final Investigation

For at least a week on social networks, In groups and conversations of fans there was a rumor that in the second leg of the Colombia Cup final between Medellín and Nacional the amount of gunpowder was going to be enormous. Several even boasted about knowing the amount spent on fireworks: more than 30 millionas they shouted, only in the North stand. That figure, in any case, seems to have fallen short.

Find out: From joy to “panic”: this was the pitched battle that marred the Cup final between DIM and Nacional

The amount of gunpowder detonated inside the stadium in the game this Wednesday, December 17 It far surpassed any other case in history in which fireworks have been set off in the middle of a game at the Atanasio Girardot.and maybe even in any other stadium in Colombia.

The gunpowder in the stands began to explode massively 15 minutes before the agreed time for the start of the game, which had to be postponed for 14 minutes because the explosions and smoke did not even allow visibility of one meter on the field. The commentators expected that after the initial whistle the gunpowder would cease and the smoke would dissipate, but it never happened. Although there were detonations in the four towns, it was in the North where the pyrotechnics never stopped; the flyers, tacos and flares They kept exploding throughout the first halfthey barely decreased at halftime and struggled again practically the entire second half.

In the stands, the fans who went to watch football covered themselves in despair because of the smoke that could not dissipate. Even The communicators in the cabins reported respiratory problems.

But the worst came later. With that same gunpowder with which they tried to give “color” to the final, the barristas set up a pitched battle and in several videos that circulate on social networks you can see how They turned gunpowder into a weapon to hurt each other among fans, while families fled from the stands and on the field the Nacional players ran to protect their families. There are a couple of videos in which you can even see how The gunpowder detonated near teacher Luis Fernando Montoya, guest of honor at the game. which ended up being evacuated in a distressing manner due to the outrages that occurred.

And the inevitable question then is, how did all that amount of gunpowder get in? How did they pass the supposed controls of the rings on the perimeter of the stadium? How come no one saw her? How did no one anticipate it, if even on social networks they openly boasted about said “preparations”?

According to a testimony given to EL COLOMBIANO, Since the afternoon hours of this Wednesday, a large truck loaded with gunpowder and lights arrived and was located near the athletics stadium to unload.. The truck not only blocked the path leading to the vendors’ modules, affecting their sales, but according to testimony, it calmly discharged the gunpowder, in broad daylight, in sight of everyone.

This specifically occurred in race 70 with 48-373 in front of the athletics track. Did no one see it? Did no one see the people pass by who from that point walked with the boxes of fireworks to the inside of the stadium? Was it an official logistics truck for the event? But, even leaving aside the truck, dozens of kilos of gunpowder had to pass through the turnstiles in the hands of the fans who entered the game. It must be clarified that These logistics are the direct responsibility of the clubs.

Previously, the mayor’s office had announced an operation with three security rings to enter the stage, 1,800 police officers and the operation of the Unified Command Post (PMU) located directly in the stadium and exercising control in the surroundings of the Atanasio. As a balance, the authorities indicated that they seized 1,200 kilos of gunpowder. Judging by what was seen, it was the “little one” that stopped sneaking into the stadium, because the amount that was detonated suggests that there were tons.

The Secretary of Security and Coexistence, Manuel Villa, assured at a press conference this Thursday, December 18, that although huor approved pyrotechnics that were part of the event, the majority that was detonated entered clandestinely. He even corroborated the truck, also pointing out that It was not one but at least three trucks of hauling those that ended up bringing in gunpowder. Due to these facts, according to Villa, They will initiate processes to determine who was responsible for this happening.

Villa’s answers, however, left many more doubts. Were there officials in the stadium who, by action or omission, allowed the entry of gunpowder? How is it possible that the District fails to exercise any control in the city’s largest sports venue and in a similar event, beyond the logistical responsibility that falls to the clubs?

You may be interested in: Telemedellín journalist was attacked in the midst of the violent events in Atanasio: “Turn it off or I will damage it”

We also asked the Metropolitan Area if it measured the impact caused by the detonations for at least two and a half hours uninterruptedly. Other testimonies collected indicate having witnessed serious damage to the fauna. And near the stadium is Cerro El Volador, habitat of almost 200 species of birds, in addition to species such as the fox and the opossum. The entity has not yet responded if it has a balance of the effects to air quality and local fauna. There were four people in the stadium with gunpowder injuries.

Regarding air quality, from the Metropolitan Area they indicated that “in addition to the Citizen Scientist Clouds, they did not register significant increases in their concentrations, which could be attributed to the use of gunpowder during the sporting event. It should be noted that the air quality indices remained at Good air quality values ​​(Air Quality Index-green AQI) and Acceptable (yellow AQI).”

Question and answer block