Eight Peruvian soldiers arrested after killing five civilians

The National Police of Peru has reported the arrest of eight members of the Armed Forces who could be responsible for the death of five civilians in Colcabamba, in the department of Ayacucho, in south-central Peru.

“Intervening military personnel are subject to the corresponding actions within the investigation process, as are the weapons seized in the area,” the Police explained in a statement.

Initially the Armed Forces reported a combat with alleged criminals linked to illicit activities, but the preliminary investigation suggests that it was an attack against civilians.

The military allegedly used excessive force through a one-way attack against a van occupied by civilians in which no firearms or prohibited substances were found. Witnesses have confirmed that the people who were in the van were unarmed when the military opened fire.

Five civilians have died and two more are seriously injured. The injured have been identified as Everoto Quispe and Jonathan Águila Gutiérrez, both 23 years old, who were taken to the Pampas hospital.

The local population has started demonstrations to demand justice and reject the initial official version of a confrontation.