2 dead, 1 injured after fall at ABBA tribute concert in Sweden: NPR
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Swedish pop sensation ABBA postpones the marketing of its long-awaited comeback tour after two people died at a tribute concert on Tuesday.
“In light of the tragic news at the tribute concert in Sweden last night, we have decided to wait to release our concert trailer until tomorrow.” tweeted the band on Wednesday.
The tribute show in Uppsala Concert & Congress hall – just north of Stockholm – became tragic when an elderly man fell down seven floors and landed on two people below.
The man died, as did one of the people he beat. The other was taken to hospital with injuries, according to police.
It reports France24 that about 1,000 people had participated in a show called “Thank You For The Music”, which honored the work of male ABBA members Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.
The man fell about 30 minutes before the show was to start and landed in the open foyer. None of the victims have been identified, however The BBC quotes the police as if the man was in his 80s and the man he fatally beat was in his 60s. The person who survived is said to be a woman also in her 60s.
– We got a call regarding a person who either jumped or fell from a high altitude inside the concert hall in central Uppsala, says police spokesman Magnus Jansson Klarin. according to EuroNews.
Police said Tuesday night that they had “no reason to believe a crime was committed in connection with the man’s fall,” the network added.
That’s what the concert hall said in a statement that it was “shocked by the tragic event” and sent thoughts to the victims and their loved ones, offering counseling and grief resources to those affected. It said it would buy back tickets from the canceled concert, with performances resuming on Saturday.
This was said by MT Live AB, the event company behind the tribute tour, on a Wednesday Facebook posts (translated from Swedish by the platform) that they still did not know the details behind the accident. They said they were shocked and sad, but said they would continue their tour.
The real ABBA will meanwhile release its ninth and final studio album on Friday. “Voyage” will be their first new material in 40 years. They are also planning a “hologram” concert in London on May 22.
This story originally appeared on The morning edition liveblogg.