'Nationwide chaos': Videos expose fiery anti-government protests across Peru as dozens are killed



Peru has experienced some of the worst political violence that the Latin American country has seen in more than two decades. Anti-government protests and riots have ravaged Peru's capital of Lima and spread across the country like wildfire.

Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo was ousted after the far-left socialist politician was impeached for attempting to illegally dissolve the Congress of Peru. Castillo's ousting sparked the Peruvian political protests in Lima on Dec. 7. Left-leaning organizations and citizens revolted against Dina Boluarte being installed as Castillo's replacement. Protesters are also demanding better living conditions.

"We have delinquent ministers, presidents that murder, and we live like animals in the middle of so much wealth that they steal from us every day," said farmer-turned-protester Samuel Acero. "We want Dina Boluarte to leave; she lied to us."

The protests escalated this week when rioters set fire to historical buildings in Lima.

\u201cBREAKING: Massive fire reported near Plaza San Martin in #Lima, Peru amid anti-government protest\n\n\u201d
— Insider Paper (@Insider Paper) 1674178895

Demonstrators flooded into Lima – many from rural areas – to protest Boluarte, as well as protesters who were killed during previous protests.

The Peruvian government deployed 11,800 police officers to Lima to quell the unrest.

\u201cManifestantes se enfrentan con la polic\u00eda en el Centro de Lima. \n\n@SoyJudyRo94 @PBOPeru @willaxtv \n\n#PBO #Lima #Peru #Willax #Protestas\u201d
— Analex Rivera (@Analex Rivera) 1674170858

Police have used tear gas against the protesters. Authorities claim that rioters are using homemade explosives.

\u201c#AHORA| Manifestantes agreden a la Polic\u00eda en el Centro de Lima. \n\n@PBOPeru @willaxtv @augusthorndike\n@SoyJudyRo94 @cparedesr \n\n #Per\u00fa #Willax #Protestas #PBO #Lima\u201d
— Analex Rivera (@Analex Rivera) 1674261801

Demonstrators argue that law enforcement is using deadly force against protesters. There have reportedly been 54 protesters killed during the demonstrations. The Interior Ministry said 22 police officers and 16 civilians were injured during Thursday's violence.

\u201c#Peru: the scenes of police repression against the protests yesterday in Lima. A total of 53 protesters have been killed, with hundreds more injured by the police and the army. Still the mass movement has grown, demanding the removal of Boularte government and early elections.\u201d
— Denis Rogatyuk (@Denis Rogatyuk) 1674250891

Armored vehicles were seen ramming down a gate at the National University of San Marcos in Lima – the oldest and longest continuously operating university in the Americas. Police cracked down on a protest at the university, and arrested demonstrators.

\u201c\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddea Peruvian police ram the entrance of the University of San Marcos to arrest students and indigenous people participating in protests against the Dina Boluarte regime.\u201d
— Kawsachun News (@Kawsachun News) 1674324208

Anti-government protests have erupted across Peru, including in the cities of Arequipa, Cusco, Ilave, and Juliaca. The government enacted a state of emergency in six regions.

"It's nationwide chaos, you can't live like this. We are in a terrible uncertainty, the economy, vandalism," Lima resident Leonardo Rojas told Reuters.

On Saturday, Peru was forced to shut down the popular tourist attraction of Machu Picchu "due to the social situation and to preserve the safety of visitors" and the general public. Approximately 400 people, including 300 tourists, are stranded at Machu Picchu.

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Clashes between protesters and police turn deadly in Peru | USA TODAY www.youtube.com

Insane video shows moment would-be assassin points handgun directly in Argentinian vice president's face



Shocking video shows the attempted assassination of Argentina's vice president, as she found herself literally staring down the barrel of a loaded gun.

Police have arrested a 35-year-old Brazilian man after he attempted to shoot Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, but failed when the weapon misfired.

The incident happened Thursday night in the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires. Kirchner was surrounded by a mob of supporters outside her home when suddenly a man pulled a gun on her.

Video shows Kirchner greeting people and walking past several cars when when someone points a handgun directly in her face. Kirchner ducks and the weapon appears to misfire before the crowd realizes what is happening and people begin shouting.

\u201cEl video del arma contra @CFKArgentina\u201d
— Lautaro Maislin (@Lautaro Maislin) 1662080864

Another video taken from a different angle shows people in the crowd struggling, presumably with the gunman, after the weapon failed to fire.

\u201cA man tried and failed to shoot Argentine Vice President Cristina Fernandez while she was greeting supporters Thursday. Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez said the man pulled the trigger, but the gun did not fire. The suspect was detained seconds after the attempt.\u201d
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) 1662137987

Argentinean President Alberto Fernández (no relation) denounced the attempted assassination in a televised speech to the nation Thursday night.

"A man pointed a firearm at her head and pulled the trigger," Fernández said. He called the crime "the most serious event we have gone through since Argentina returned to democracy" in 1983.

"Cristina remains alive because — for a reason not yet technically confirmed — the gun that had five bullets did not fire despite that the trigger was pulled," the president said, according to Kawsachun News.

\u201cPresident Alberto Fern\u00e1ndez to the nation: "@CFKArgentina remains alive because for a reason not yet technically confirmed, the gun which had five bullets did not fire despite the trigger being pulled."\u201d
— Kawsachun News (@Kawsachun News) 1662090150

ABC News reports that supporters have been gathered outside Kirchner's home since last week, when a prosecutor said she should be imprisoned for 12 years and barred from holding office because of charges related to a corruption scandal. Kirchner, a left-wing politician who served as Argentina's president from 2007 to 2015, has denied any and all wrongdoing.

Kirchner was elected vice president on a ticket with Fernández in 2019.

“We can disagree, we can have deep disagreements, but hate speech cannot take place because it breeds violence and there is no chance of violence coexisting with democracy,” Fernández said.

He called for a national holiday on Friday to allow Argentinians to "express themselves in defense of life, democracy and in solidarity with our vice president.”

Other government officials condemned the "attempted homicide" of the vice president.

“When hate and violence are imposed over the debate of ideas, societies are destroyed and ... situations like the one seen today: an assassination attempt,” Economy Minister Sergio Massa said.

Former President Mauricio Macri said the attack "demands an immediate and profound clarification by the judiciary and security forces."

Opposition leader Patricia Bullrich criticized the president in a statement accusing him of "playing with fire."

"Instead of seriously investigating a serious incident, he accuses the opposition and the press, decreeing a national holiday to mobilize activists," Bullrich said.