NME News

160 arrested at Metallica fan riot in Colombia

Eight injured as police employ tanks and trucks to quell disturbance

March 12, 2010 | 8 Comments
Buy Metallica Music from Amazon UK
Metallica news RSS feed
More Metallica news, reviews, videos and tour dates

Around 160 Metallica fans were arrested on Wednesday (March 10) after a riot outside the band's gig in Bogota, Colombia.

Hundreds of ticketless fans turned up to the US group's concert at Simón Bolívar Park and attempted to breach barriers, reports Sky News. 1,500 police officers were present outside the venue – tanks and police trucks were deployed, as the authorities had been expecting trouble.

A 45-minute riot ensued, during which four fans and four police officers were injured. One was treated for a knife wound.

Local police chief Ruben Castillo said: "The presence of police and riot teams was necessary because these misfits – there's no other name for them – damaged some windows in the surrounding area."

The Metallica gig was not disrupted.

In January, 120 people were arrested during a riot outside a Metallica show in Santiago, Chile.

Click below to watch footage of the riot in Colombia.

New! NME iPhone App: Get NME news, videos, photos and more on the move

Share this story:

Metallica Merchandise:

More News:

Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody has been singing with a dislocated jaw for eight years

PREVIOUS Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody has been singing...

Phil Spector appealing murder conviction on grounds of judicial error

NEXT Phil Spector appealing murder conviction on...

Buy NME Magazine right now

Subscribe here and get NME for £1 a week or get this week's digital issue for your iPad, laptop or home computer

Comments (8)

RosesInTheHospital

Mar 12, 2010

I assume the 'fans' were rioting because they had heard Metallica's last album - It would be nice to see Hetfield hanging from a tree...

CrystalFighter

Mar 12, 2010

wow, imagine what those crazy columbians would do to see a good band...

CerpinTaxt

Mar 12, 2010

Ooh look at me slagging off a popular influential band. Pathetic.

albarnaholic

Mar 13, 2010

Hey CristalFighter, we're not crazy indians, we've seen very good bands here in Colombia, last year there were concerts of Bloc Party, R.E.M with Mars Volta, Killers and indie bands like Asobi Seksu and oldies like Duran Duran. Last week Coldplay was here and this year I'm gonna attend the concerts of Franz Ferdinand

VanessaVonZed

Mar 13, 2010

I fell very bad because of what NME Article.. I am Colombian (btw itÂ´s colOmbia not colUmbia) I went to the concert and it went great. The trouble was with stupid young delincuents that wouldnt buy a ticket and intead had to make up this riots and trying to get inside by force. To all of you who are not colombians, i wouldnt like you to think that this happens all the time, because it doesnt. Last week Colplay came and it all went very well. So itÂ´s not something that happens all the time.

miniospina

Mar 15, 2010

Vanessa...for most people there it's not that they won't buy a ticket, it's that they CAN'T.

sd1515

Mar 15, 2010

Haha tanks and everything, thats mad. I'm sure the actual concert was great though, Metallica are an amazing band and the crowds in South America are amazing

VanessaVonZed

Mar 18, 2010

@Miniospina Dude, come on! I know that for some people thatÂ´s almost impossible to get a ticket but thatÂ´s NO REASON to begin throwing rocks to policemen and begin riots! I know that it is hard, specially when good bands come to Bogota, becase letÂ´s face it...diferencing to other years, this year many GREAT bands are coming to our country. And yeah, tickets are expensive, but if you really REALLY like a band you do what you gotta do to buy a ticket. But no, young delincuents decide to crash in the concert by force and thatÂ´s not fair with the people that really like good shows and expect nothing but the best from the organicers like what happen in this concert specially. The organization was excellent. During the show we didnt even notice that this situation was happening outside the park. So please, with the respect you deserve, dont come here telling me that "most people cant buy a ticket"... Â¿Does that mean that if you cant buy a ticket youÂ´re going to begin a riot and crash in the concert by force?. ThatÂ´s no excuse to begin a riot in the first place. ThatÂ´s not civilized. ThatÂ´s not showing respect to the organization, the fans and specially the bands. Like i said before, Colombia, like many other LatinAmerican plazas areamazing (just like sd1515 said) and this is not something that happens all the time. And thatÂ´s the truth.