Clashes between anti-government protesters and riot police in the Peruvian capital, Lima, have left a 32-year-old man dead and more than 100 people injured, including many police officers.
The protests come less than a week after José Jerí was sworn in as the interim president following the impeachment of his predecessor in office, Dina Boluarte.
Wednesday’s demonstrations were organised by mainly young Peruvians who demand that the country’s political class do more to combat high levels of crime and corruption.
President Jerí said the protest had been infiltrated by criminals set on causing chaos and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the protester’s death.
He wrote on X that he “regretted the death” of Eduardo Ruiz Sáenz, but did not give further details as to what caused it.
Ruth Luque, a left-wing member of Congress, meanwhile said that “preliminary information” indicated the hip hop artist had been killed by a bullet wound to the chest.
Luque posted a photo of herself on social media in which she can be seen speaking to a member of staff at the hospital to which many of those injured in the clashes were taken.
Local media quoted witnesses who said they saw the musician being shot by a man they accused of being a plainclothes police officer.
President Jerí said an investigation would be launched “to determine objectively what happened and who is responsible”.
The protesters also demanded that the government do more to combat corruption and crime, specifically a wave of extortions which has seen bus and taxi drivers threatened by gangs.
Credit: bbc.com
