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Arson attack destroys machinery in Victoria

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Road roller damaged by fire in demand for freedom of Mapuche leader.

In a protest that escalated into violence, a road roller was damaged by fire in an arson attack on a property near a school in the town of Púa, Victoria. The incident, which occurred overnight, was attributed to unknown individuals who left a message demanding the release of lonco Víctor Queipul.

The night in Victoria was disrupted by an act of fire and protest. According to reports from Radio Biobío, a group of unidentified individuals set fire to a road roller on a property in the La Araucanía region. The attack, carried out under the cover of darkness, left the machinery reduced to rubble.

Following the incident, the perpetrators left a banner with a clear message: a demand for the freedom of the lonco from Temucuicui, Víctor Queipul, recently arrested after being accused of assault. The message was found on a notebook sheet at the scene of the incident.

This demand comes amid heightened tensions after Queipul was arrested in connection with an altercation involving two lawyers from the Mapuche Public Defender's Office. The conflict took place outside the Oral Criminal Trial Court in Angol, where a hearing was scheduled for 17 community members charged with the crime of aggravated kidnapping against prison guards in Angol prison in early 2023.

In response to the attack, specialized teams from the Criminalistics Laboratory and the Special Police Investigations Brigade (BIPE) of the Investigative Police (PDI) have taken charge of the investigation. Their goal is to clarify the details of the incident and locate those responsible for the destruction of the machinery.

The community of Victoria and its surroundings remain on alert following these acts of violence, which reflect the ongoing tensions and social demands in the region. Authorities have called for calm and dialogue as a means to resolve conflicts.