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Fepasa to file complaint over two armed attacks on timber-carrying trains in Lota

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The company Ferrocarriles del Pacífico S.A. (Fepasa) will file a complaint against those found responsible for the double armed attack carried out by unknown assailants on a train transporting timber in Lota, in the Bío Bío region.

This occurred on the past Wednesday, when, according to reports presented to the uniformed police, around the Puerto Nuevo area, approximately 12 individuals on the railway proceeded to cut the air valves of the cars carrying eucalyptus logs in order to stop the train.

The freight train and its 28 trailing cars were traveling from Coronel to the commune of Arauco.

Once the action was completed, the criminals proceeded tosteal the timber and threaten the train crew with bladed and firearms.

Subsequently, the criminals threw an undetermined number of logs onto the public road, wheregunshots were heard in the air.

But this was not the only attack, as a similar one occurred 48 hours later.

In this context, Fepasa's lawyer, Karen Fernández, announced thefiling of a complaint against those found responsible. She also denounced that Carabineros allegedly did not act during the flagrancy period to apprehend the criminals.

Christian Democracy deputy and former president of the Timber Theft Investigation Commission, Eric Aedo, called on the Armed Forces to protect the so-called "critical infrastructure" and added thatorganized crime "changes tactics"by carrying out attacks and thefts on freight trains.

The estimated damages and thefts amount to around3 million pesos, according to Fepasa.

Given the severity of the incidents, Carabineros decided not to provide explanations for the recurring thefts affecting residents, which has been part of the criticism raised by the company.

Source:www.biobiochile.cl