Following the tragic death of five festival-goers at Time Warp Argentina earlier this month, the mayor of Buenos Aires announced that electronic music festivals were to be banned immediately.
The ban is a temporary solution, implemented by Mayor Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, whilst the government devises new legislation to regulate and protect against drug use and overdosing.
Now the company behind the festival is under investigation. Dell Producciones has been charged with negligence and facilitating the purchase of illegal substances, with over thirty members of staff cited in the allegations.
According to Mixmag, Maximiliano Avila, the company’s attorney and Carlos Maria Garat were taken into custody earlier this week and there have been reports that head of Dell Producciones, Adrian Conci, has turned himself over to police.
Time Warp, which began in Germany in 1994, has released a statement following the arrests:
“We are dismayed and deeply saddened by the death of five young people at Time Warp Buenos Aires. Our thoughts are with the relatives of the deceased and the five visitors who are still under medical treatment. We pray for their quick recovery. The German Time Warp companies, ‘Planwerk Events GmbH & Co KG“ and “cosmopop GmbH’, were not in any way involved in the local organization and planning of the festival. We are listening to your complaints. At the moment we are trying to get a clear picture.”
The second day of the festival was cancelled, with ticket-holders advised to contact info@multiticket.com.ar to obtain a full refund.
