Crime - Operator of collapsed Ballermann restaurant arrested
The operator of a restaurant that was illegally opened at Ballermann in Mallorca about a month ago has been arrested. The man was charged with reckless homicide in four cases and reckless grievous bodily harm in six cases, according to the Spanish National Police in Palma on a Wednesday. Four people, including two German tourists, lost their lives at the Spanish Mediterranean island that evening on May 23rd. In addition, there were numerous injuries.
During the investigation, it was discovered that the local did not have a business license for the illegally built and classified as non-accessible balcony terrace, according to the police statement. The excessive load of this illegally constructed structure caused it to collapse.
Palma's mayor, Jaime Martínez, had previously announced that the use of the first floor of the Medusa Beach Club was illegal. "We assume that there were 21 people in the first floor at the time of the accident," the mayor stated at the end of May. The first floor collapsed all the way to the basement.
Twelve Dutch guests of the local, according to the authorities' findings, carried tables to the terrace and assembled them before the accident. In the aftermath of the accident, Mayor Martínez announced that there would be strict controls in the summer at Playa de Palma.
Statements of the mayor
- The arrest of the restaurant operator, responsible for the illegal establishment at Ballermann, took place in Palma, Spain, due to charges of reckless homicide in four cases and reckless grievous bodily harm in six cases.
- Country of origin for two of the four individuals who lost their lives on May 23rd at a Spanish Mediterranean island was Germany.
- Majorca's Mayor, Jaime Martínez, announced that the Medusa Beach Club's first-floor use was illegal, and that during the accident, there were 21 people on the first floor, including 12 Dutch tourists.
- The investigation revealed that the local did not possess a business license and the illegal structure's excessive load led to its collapse, causing numerous injuries and deaths.
- In response to the accidents, Mayor Martínez announced strict controls during the summer at Playa de Palma to ensure tourist safety and maintain justice.
