Ukrainian officials detained more than 130 people in Odessa after one of the deadliest days in Ukraine since the Euromaidan protests started in November 2013. On Friday, more than 40 people were killed in clashes between pro-Russians and pro-Ukrainians.
In a statement, local police chief Petro Lutsiuk said those detained could face charges ranging from participating in riots to premeditated murder for Friday’s street battles, which resulted in the city’s trade union building being set on fire.
Most of those killed either choked on smoke or died after jumping out of the building’s windows, officials said.
Journalist Howard Amos documented the clashes from start to finish and was at the trade union building Saturday morning where people mourned those lost in the fire and cleaned up around the building.
Big clean-up operation underway in #Odessa city centre this morning: pic.twitter.com/G4FeoG2Kly
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
Ukrainian flags flying in #odessa city centre this morning have small black ribbons tied to them: pic.twitter.com/NR79vG1ys6
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
Flowers being laid outside Odessa’s burnt out trade union building this morning: pic.twitter.com/bqMoUTczjP
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
Men coming out of the trade union building in tears. “There’s a mountain of bodies in there,” one says.
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
Improvised scaffolding and ropes that people used to try and escape burning building still in place this morning: pic.twitter.com/Uil4X3Ruzs
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
People keep bringing more flowers, despite the scuffles: pic.twitter.com/fzY3ck9sql
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
Bloodstains on the street outside trade union building in #odessa: pic.twitter.com/NyVtG3k1nV
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
Piles of flowers growing outside the trade union building: pic.twitter.com/ZftkUPQmyY
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
Orthodox priests leading a service outside burnt out trade union building: pic.twitter.com/G46qHphlOc
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
Bloody board amid mounds of flowers now outside trade union building in #odessa: pic.twitter.com/ypUUV48HJw
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
Little girl laying yellow roses outside trade union building in #odessa: pic.twitter.com/SkibPyho22
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
Two of the main opposition leaders made an appearance in Odessa.
Look who has turned up in Odessa outside trade union building. Klitshchko: pic.twitter.com/4gKqBToFiO
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
As quickly as they arrived, Klitshchko and Poroshenko are gone: pic.twitter.com/BUspDRB4Ku
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
But tempers are still high between the groups and fights broke out.
Angry crowd now confronting ring of riot police around trade union building. Screaming and shouting: pic.twitter.com/P0PPHxYwlz
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
There is also a angry crowd of several hundred. A few scuffles. They are furious with the police, accusing them of inaction yesterday.
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
Angry crowd now surging against riot police, who are holding them back: pic.twitter.com/7zRipS4RGl
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
More scuffles outside the trade union building in #odessa: pic.twitter.com/LyRnEvgwBg
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
Ukraine announced the next three days are days of mourning in remembrance of the violence in Odessa. The pro-Ukrainians and pro-Russians are pointing fingers at each other, but as Amos points out, both sides were throwing grenades and Molotov cocktails. It is hard to determine which side is directly responsible for the trade union fire.
Nobody will ever know who was “responsible” for trade union building fire. It was chaos, both sides lobbing Molotovs all over the place.
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 3, 2014
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