14 miners killed clash in Peru. (Credits: Google)
- At least 14 individuals were killed in a battle between gangs of small-scale gold miners in southern Peru’s Arequipa region.
- Authorities have arrested 31 people in connection with the incident and will conduct ballistics tests on the collected rifles and ammunition to assess their role.
At least 14 individuals were killed in a battle between gangs of small-scale gold miners in the Arequipa region of southern Peru on Wednesday, as per the local prosecutor’s office.
Arequipa prosecutor Maria del Rosario Lozada informed the Peruvian news network Radio Programas del Peru that seven bodies with gunshot wounds were discovered on Saturday, and seven additional bodies were discovered on Tuesday, with more bodies perhaps to be discovered as numerous people remain missing.
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According to local newspaper El Comercio, the violence began on June 2 in a contested region named Huanaquita in the Atico district of Caraveli province.
As per Lozada, authorities have arrested 31 people in connection with the incident and will conduct ballistics tests on the collected rifles and ammunition to assess their role in the incident.
The prosecutor’s office is examining video and audio recordings of the event to determine who is to blame.
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As per the Arequipa police chief Luis Pacheco, traffic on the South Pan-American Highway remained restricted, as local citizens barricaded the road Tuesday to demand authorities take action following the clash.