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Court accepts complaint over attack on Rucalhue power plant invoking new Anti-Terrorism Law

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On April 20 of this year, an arson attack affected the facilities of the Rucalhue Hydroelectric Power Plant, located on the border between the municipalities of Santa Bárbara and Quilaco.

On that occasion, over 50 vehicles were burned as a result of the actions of at least 12 hooded individuals.

Additionally, two security guards working at the facility were threatened and beaten by those allegedly behind the incident.

In this context, the complaint was filed on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, and was declared admissible on the past Thursday by the Santa Bárbara Guarantee Court, marking the formal start of the judicial investigation.

According to the complaint, the attackers entered carrying shotguns and allegedly assault rifles, violently assaulting the security guards protecting the premises.

"They subdued them, threw them to the ground, threatened to kill them, and demanded they hand over weapons and information," explained lawyer Camila Jara, who—along with Rocío Morales and Pablo Galarce—drafted the legal document.

The complaint states that one of the guards was the victim of a failed attempted homicide, which was only prevented by the intervention of his colleague.

While the latter suffered serious injuries while intervening to prevent a greater tragedy, his colleague was left with significant psychological consequences, currently undergoing psychological treatment.

One peculiarity of this complaint is that it was filed not only on behalf of the affected individuals but also the security company Mira.

As Morales explained, this is possible due to a provision in the Criminal Procedure Code that allows complaints in terrorist crimes under a kind of popular action, even if the complainant is not directly affected.

CHARGES FILED: TERRORISM, ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE, THREATS, AND SERIOUS INJURIES

The complaint requests an investigation into four crimes. The first relates to terrorist association, linked to the organization and execution of the attack with the aim of spreading terror among the population. This is the central point of the complaint and is based on the new Anti-Terrorism Law, in effect since February 2025.

The second charge refers to attempted homicide, due to the attempted murder of one of the guards, which was only avoided thanks to his colleague's intervention.

The third relates to the crime of serious injuries, stemming from the physical assaults suffered by one guard and the psychological trauma inflicted on the other.

The last charge is for conditional threats, after the attackers demanded cooperation under direct threat of death, with weapons pointed at their heads.

In this context, Pablo Galarce highlighted that this is one of the first cases invoking Chile's new Anti-Terrorism Law, enacted in February 2025, aimed at more effectively combating organized crimes seeking to instill fear in the population.

"Before, we lacked such specific legal tools; now, the State can act more forcefully. This law allows for harsher penalties and facilitates the prosecution of such acts," he explained.

He also noted that this complaint joins another previously filed by the new Ministry of Security, reinforcing the institutional weight of the case.

According to Morales, this attack marks a turning point. "In Chile, we used to see terrorism as something distant, typical of other countries. But now it's here, affecting our civilian and working population," emphasizing the need for these acts not to go unpunished.

The message from the law firm is clear: they seek for those responsible to be prosecuted and sentenced with the full force of the law, both for the material damage and the human harm caused.

Source:La Tribuna