For the second day, riots broke out in the Colombian capital Bogota after a man was killed by police brutality on Wednesday morning. Nine people have now been killed in the protests.
The protests began after 46-year-old Javier Ordonez was repeatedly given electric shocks by police with an electric shock weapon. He later died in hospital. A friend of the victim filmed the event, the images were widely distributed.
According to the police, Ordonez drank alcohol on the street and did not comply with the corona rules.
On Wednesday evening, protests began around the police station where Ordonez was taken after his arrest. Nine people were killed and hundreds were injured.
Also on Thursday, some 300 people gathered at the now badly damaged police station and threw stones, branches and bottles.
Two police officers have been put on hold
Two police officers suspected of taking part in the suspected assault have since been suspended pending an investigation.
Colombian President Ivan Duque says he will not tolerate misconduct by authorities, but he also calls not to stigmatize the police.
In 2019, Colombian police also came under fire after a young protester was fatally injured by a projectile fired by the riot police. Then there was massive protests against the government’s economic policy.
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