Mayor of district where 41 people died in blaze at Colectif club gave venue permit despite lack of firefighter’s authorisation.
Romanian anti-corruption prosecutors have arrested a former mayor over a nightclub fire that killed 41 people in Bucharest.
Cristian Popescu Piedone resigned as the mayor of the Bucharest district where the Colectiv club is located following mass protests.
Prosecutors said on Saturday that there was evidence Popescu had granted a permit for the club despite it not being authorised by firefighters.
“Given that several … events took place … in broadly unsafe public conditions, the lives, health and physical integrity of the audience and staff were permanently put in danger,” the prosecutors said in a statement.
About 20,000 people held a demonstration in Bucharest on Tuesday evening, calling for the resignation of Popescu, the prime minister, Victor Ponta, and the interior minister, Gabriel Oprea. Ponta, his government and Popescu resigned the next day.
Another nine people died on Saturday from the injuries they sustained in the fire, bringing the death total to 41. Two died in the Netherlands, where they had been transported for specialist treatment.
