PRESS RELEASE No. 157 - 2020
The National Police informs the Nicaraguan people on the Progress of Police Investigation Fire at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Managua:
Today, Saturday, August 1, 2020, Technical Teams integrated by Police Investigative Officers, Criminalistics and Fire Experts, in continuity with the Fire Investigation that occurred yesterday, Friday, July 31 at 11:30 in the Chapel of the Blood of Christ, Metropolitan Cathedral of Managua, carried out the following proceedings:
INTERVIEWS WITH WITNESSES (SYNTHESIS):
1. Citizen Xiomara de Jesús Castro, 57 years old, merchant, (Sells candles at the Cathedral for 27 years), 001-030263-0068C, refers:
- Yesterday, Friday, July 31, from seven in the morning, she was inside the Chapel of the Blood of Christ.
- At approximately 11:20 in the morning, inside the Chapel, a parishioner was praying, while she was counting her money from the sale of the candles, at that moment she noticed that there was a fire around the dome, where the image of the Blood of Christ was located.
- Noticing the fire, she warned the parishioner to leave the Chapel because it was burning.
- At the time of the fire, there was only her and a parishioner inside the Chapel of the Blood of Christ.
- Before the fire, she did not see any other person and did not notice anything suspicious.
- Every day the (Religious) sisters give her an orange-white spray bottle (found in the scene), which contains liquid alcohol, so that parishioners can use it to disinfect their hands.
- Inside the Chapel every day at 7:00 in the morning a sacristan lights a candle and place in a high chandelier, about one meter high, which is in front of the dome of the image of the Blood of Christ.
2. Citizen (Parishioner) Manuel Salvador Bravo Alvarado, 70 years old, pensioner, ID number 201-190850-001T, states:
- Yesterday, Friday, July 31, he arrived at the Chapel at 11:00 in the morning, to pray to the image of the Blood of Christ.
- While he was praying, at approximately 11:20 in the morning, the lady who sells candles, whom he has known by face for a long time, told him that the Blood of Christ was burning and that they should run.
- At the time of the fire in the Chapel, there was only him and the lady who sells candles, he did not observe anyone who had thrown any object, nor heard an explosion.
- He has always observed a high chandelier with a lit candle inside the Chapel in front of the dome of the image of the Blood of Christ.
INVESTIGATION PROCEEDINGS
Today, Saturday, August 1, 2020, Investigation Officers, Criminalistics and Fire Experts carried out:
- Fire reconstruction experiment, at 11:30 in the morning (at the same time the fire occurred in order to carry it out with similar environmental conditions), to establish the precise way and place in which the fire started, the method of spread.
- Re-inspection inside the Chapel, verifying temperature, ventilation, lighting, air flow and access.
- Criminalistics surveys of residues and debris to determine material contained in the dome where the image of the Blood of Christ was found.
Our experts and researchers confirmed that:
1. No residues of artisan gunpowder, explosive substances of industrial origin, or hydrocarbon-type accelerant (gasoline, diesel, kerosene or thiner) were detected in samples of combustion material.
2. The probability of a short circuit or overheating of the electrical system was dismissed as the source of the fire.
3. At the scene, an orange-white plastic spray bottle was found containing alcohol, described by Mrs. Xiomara de Jesús Castro, seller of candles, who reported receiving it daily from the Religious sisters whom attend the Cathedral, for disinfecting use of the parishioners. The atomizer is volatile, easy to burn, due to its plastic material and its content.
The National Police in coordination with Fire D continue the investigations and Criminalistics expertise to clarify the event.
Our Institution reiterates its commitment to continue working for the safety and tranquility of the Nicaraguan people, families and communities.
Managua, Saturday, August 1, 2020.
