City
Epaper

Airbnb bans 'party houses' after US Halloween shooting

By IANS | Published: November 03, 2019 12:20 PM

Global travel company Airbnb announced that it would ban "party houses" after a mass shooting at a California home rented through the firm left five people dead.

Open in App

"Starting today, we are banning 'party houses' and we are redoubling our efforts to combat unauthorized parties and get rid of abusive host and guest conduct, including conduct that leads to the terrible events we saw in Orinda...," the BBC quoted CEO Brian Chesky as saying in a series of tweets on Saturday.

We must do better, and we will. This is unacceptable," he added.

The house in the city of Orinda, near San Francisco, was reportedly booked under a pretence for a small group, before being publicised on Instagram as the venue for a Halloween party on Friday night which eventually drew a crowd of more than 100 people.

But the host did not authorise the party, according to Airbnb.

Three people died at the house and two more died later in hospital.

As of Saturday, the police were yet to arrest or identify any suspects. Officers said they found two guns at the house.

In his tweets on Saturday, Chesky added that Airbnb would create a dedicated "party house" rapid response team and expand manual screening of high-risk reservations, the BBC reported.

The company would also take action against users who violated its policies, he said.

Responding to the mass shooting, California Governor Gavin Newsom called for Congress to pass gun control legislation.

"This will barely make the news today. That's how numb we have become to this," he said. "Our hearts are aching for the victims and all those affected by this horrific tragedy."

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Brian CheskybbcAirbnbOrindaGavin Newsom
Open in App

Related Stories

EntertainmentFans Can Now Rent Janhvi Kapoor's Childhood Home in Chennai on Airbnb, Know How

InternationalTom Cruise 'working diligently' on his planned space movie

CricketCLOSE-IN: West Indies cricket - How the cookie crumbles (IANS column)

InternationalUK parliamentary panel report warns of national security threats from China; calls govt’s approach “inadequate”

InternationalCops to probe ex-BBC British Sikh presenter for harassing over 20 women

International Realted Stories

International8 killed as tornadoes leave trail of death and destruction in US

International27 South Africans arrested for election-related crimes: Police

International12 injured after Doha-Dublin Qatar Airways flight hits turbulence

InternationalTop EU diplomat meets Palestinian premier, renews Gaza ceasefire call

InternationalTwelve people injured by turbulence on Doha to Dublin flight