CaliToday (16/10/2025): A massive anti-crime protest in Peru's capital turned deadly on Wednesday, leaving at least one man dead and more than one hundred people injured, as widespread public anger over rampant crime boiled over into violent confrontations between demonstrators and police. The turmoil presents an immediate crisis for President Jose Jeri, who took office just days ago following the impeachment of his predecessor.
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| Peru has been rocked by protests against politicians and corruption for weeks (Hugo CUROTTO) |
In a statement on the social media platform X, President Jeri confirmed the fatality. "I regret the death of 32-year-old citizen Eduardo Ruiz Sanz," he announced, without providing details on the circumstances of the death. However, the National Human Rights Coordinator, a prominent non-governmental organization, claimed that Ruiz may have been shot by a plainclothes police officer, raising serious questions about the use of force.
The national Ombudsman's Office released updated figures, reporting a staggering toll of 102 injuries, which included 78 police officers and 24 civilians, highlighting the intensity of the clashes. Images from the scene captured by AFP showed the bloodied face of a police officer who had been struck by a stone.
The youth-led demonstrations drew thousands of frustrated Peruvians to the streets of Lima and several other cities. The core grievance was the government's perceived failure to address a deepening security crisis that has seen a surge in extortion, contract killings, and gang activity.
As night fell in Lima, the protest escalated. According to an AFP correspondent, some demonstrators attempted to breach the security perimeter around the Congress building. Protesters in the crowd were seen hurling stones and lighting fireworks, creating a chaotic and dangerous scene. In response, police in full riot gear deployed tear gas to disperse the crowds.
President Jeri condemned the violence, stating that the initially "peaceful demonstration" had been infiltrated by criminal elements seeking to "cause chaos."
The unrest is the latest chapter in weeks of political and social turmoil in the South American nation. The protests were fueled by the same public anger that led lawmakers to impeach then-President Dina Boluarte last Friday. Critics blamed Boluarte for the spike in crime and accused her of corruption. Her ouster followed crippling protests by bus companies, merchants, and students demanding protection from criminal gangs.
"I think there is general discontent because nothing has been done," Amanda Meza, a 49-year-old freelancer marching toward Congress, told AFP. "There's no security from the state," she added, emphasizing that cases of extortion and contract killings "have grown massively in Peru."
Extortion and violent crime have become a grim feature of daily life across the country. Powerful gangs such as the local Los Pulpos and the notorious transnational Venezuelan syndicate, Tren de Aragua, have been terrorizing citizens from all walks of life with kidnappings and demands for protection money.
In an effort to quell the public outrage, President Jeri, a right-wing politician who previously led Congress, has vowed to "declare war" on organized crime. He will serve as interim president until elections scheduled for April.
However, his new administration already faces a complex web of public distrust. Wednesday's protests were organized by a broad coalition, including youth collectives, artists' groups, and labor unions. Feminist groups also joined the rally, highlighting a separate grievance against the new president related to a sexual assault complaint filed against him last year. While prosecutors closed the case in August due to a lack of evidence, the accusation continues to fuel opposition to his leadership.
