They investigate the fatal accident at a university in Bolivia 1:22
(CNN Spanish) -
Seven students from the Public University of El Alto in La Paz, Bolivia, were arrested for allegedly convening a student assembly that ended with seven people dead on Tuesday, after a group of people fell from the fifth floor when a railing gave way, the Bolivian Police reported this Thursday.
"The investigations carried out ... allowed the identification of leaders who incited an agglomeration of people and clashes that triggered the events in which 7 students lost their lives," the Police reported on Twitter.
Those apprehended will be charged with manslaughter and serious and very serious injuries, reports the state Bolivian Information Agency (ABI).
The agency added that two people have yet to be detained.
It was not specified if they were students.
CNN does not know if the detainees have lawyers.
"The authority indicated that the convocation of a student assembly violated the current regulations that prohibit mass concentrations to prevent the spread of covid-19," said ABI.
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They also investigate authorities and teachers
Colonel Johnny Aguilera, general commander of the Police, said that "the authorities and teachers of the Public University of El Alto are also being investigated to establish whether there is a link with the student assembly that ended in a tragedy."
Preliminary investigations indicate that many students have gone up to the fifth floor to take the Student Center of the School of Economics.
Aguilera had referred to the structure affected by the incident at the university on Wednesday and said it is part of the investigation.
"We have considered a priori that the fixing elements that these railings would have to have, considering the height, are inadequate and insufficient, because they are tied to the floor ... not as a structure, let's say, forceful," said the commander.
He also added that a structural analysis will be carried out.
The University has not yet responded to CNN's request for comment.
The rector of the University, Freddy Medrano, denied on Wednesday that the institution had approved the meeting.
"In no way have we allowed this agglomeration," Medrano said at a press conference.
