Government Announces It Will File Lawsuit Under Anti-Terrorism Law Following Arson Attack in Ercilla
The Minister of Public Security, Luis Cordero, referred to the arson attack recorded last night in the commune of Ercilla, La Araucanía Region, and announced that the Government will join the legal action through a lawsuit.
The incident occurred on the main Route 5 South and left two people injured, one of them with serious wounds.
In an interview with EmolTV, the Secretary of State stated that "the State is utilizing the new tools. In the case of the Anti-Terrorism Law, once five lawsuits have been filed, we will add a sixth for last night's events."
"Why is last night's event so serious? Not only because of the arson, there is a claim of responsibility, in fact there is a banner, but also because another vehicle was deliberately attacked with firearms, leading to the injury of two people," he commented.
He affirmed that "this, in the Government's opinion, is a terrorist act. And that is why the Government will file a lawsuit in this case, using the Anti-Terrorism Law, given the characteristics it had: the violence used and especially the aspects of claim associated with that intervention."
He added: "I believe there are clear terrorist acts. In fact, the Ministry of Security has a formed opinion on that point in the lawsuits it has filed. Is there terrorism in La Araucanía? Yes, there are groups using that purpose with the aim of intimidating people and institutions. Have they been successful? No, because both the police and the Public Ministry have been achieving results in each of them, and we will persist in that path."
The Case
A group of individuals arrived in a pickup truck at kilometer 600 heading from north to south and began shooting at vehicles passing through the area, in order to stop their occupants.
In that context, the individuals shot and injured a woman who was traveling as a passenger in a pickup truck, who had to be urgently transported to a medical facility.
Meanwhile, the second injured person is a truck driver who was hit by shrapnel after his vehicle was also attacked with gunfire by the individuals.
Following this, the antisocial individuals burned the pickup truck they were using and fled in an unknown direction, forcing the suspension of traffic for several hours on Route 5.
Source:Emol.com
