Iron Maiden have described media reports that their fans threw rocks at police before a recent concert in Columbia as “wildly exaggerated”.

More than 100 people were arrested on Saturday (March 7th) when fans without tickets tried to gatecrash the band's concert in Bogota.

A police report stated that tear gas was used to quash the disturbance, which has reportedly left authorities considering whether to ban metal music from the country.

In a statement, Iron Maiden's manager Rod Smallwood said the group “abhor the inane behaviour of a small minority”, but played down suggestions the clashes had compromised safety.

He also vowed that Iron Maiden would return to Columbia.

“The 'riots' were basically a lot of kids trying to break into the Simon Bolivar Park to see the show and the park has a big perimeter to protect,” Mr Smallwood said.

“There is a large military presence for all concerts in Bogota as can be seen in our forthcoming movie Flight 666.

“However in the last 13 months we have played 2 fantastic concerts there to over 75,000 passionate fans at this same venue, Simon Bolivar Park. Neither performance was at all affected by the incidents of people outside trying to break in.

“None of the enjoyment of the show or safety of the band or our audiences was at all compromised.”

He added: “We abhor the inane behaviour of a small minority of people outside.

"They do Iron Maiden, Metal and the real Colombian fans a disservice and sadly just provide a reason for the military to feel they need to be there."

The group, who are on a tour of South America, planned to return to Columbia, Mr Smallwood said, and hoped authorities would "not be swayed" by the actions of the ticketless fans.

(by Jason Gregory)