Nabila Nanfuka: Crush-Death Club Has Licence Suspended

Northampton Nightclub Has License Suspended Following Stampede Death

The nightclub where student Nabila Nanfuka died in a crush has had its licence suspended pending an investigation.

Miss Nanfuka, 22, a leisure and tourism student at Northampton University, died following the incident at the Lava and Ignite club in Northampton in the early hours of Wednesday.

Northampton Borough Council's licensing committee has suspended the club's licence while an investigation is carried out.

Miss Nanfuka, who was described by her family as "one in a million" and a "beautiful person", died as a result of suspected crush injuries. Two other women, who have not been identified, were critically injured in the incident and are being treated in Northampton General Hospital.

Police handed evidence to Northampton Borough Council over concerns surrounding the premises and formally asked the licensing panel to review Lava and Ignite's licence.

Miss Nanfuka's younger brother Fahad Msimbe paid tribute to his sister and called her his "best friend".

Speaking outside the family home in Neasden, north-west London, he said: "She affected so many people's lives and put other people first. She is one in a million, really. She was my best friend, my sister. I still haven't come to terms with the fact she has passed away, it still hasn't sunk in.

"She was a really beautiful person in every way. She was really interested in the leisure and tourism industry, but she didn't have a specific role that she wanted to take when she finished (university). My mother is torn apart. She is finding it difficult, like most mothers would."

Northamptonshire Police officers were called to the nightclub in Northampton town centre at around 3.30am on Wednesday. The force is investigating claims that a fire alarm prompted a stampede for the exits of the crowded club in St Peters Way after revellers were warned that their buses home were about to leave.

The decision by the sub-committee is an interim step which means a full review will now be carried out of the club's licence. The review must be carried out by the licensing committee in the next 28 days. The council will then meet again to consider the findings of the review.

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