5/5 © Reuters. Protests after a police officer shot and killed a street juggler in Panguipulli 2/5
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Protests erupted at a popular lakeside resort in southern Chile after a police officer shot and killed a street artist in the normally sleepy village, prompting the government of President Sebastián Piñera to convene an emergency meeting on Saturday. The arsonists attacked several public buildings in Panguipulli late on Friday, including the municipal headquarters, which was still burning in the early hours of Saturday. Protesters also set up burning barricades and threw stones at the police station, according to official and local media reports. The broadest protests since late 2019 have put the country’s Carabinero police force under intense scrutiny, with local and international watchdog groups alleging excessive use of force and human rights violations. Chilean police detained the officer involved in the shooting while it was being investigated, according to officials, who said the protests had delayed the evidence collection process. Interior Minister Rodrigo Delgado, who called his staff on Saturday to discuss the events, condemned the fire and promised that justice would be served in the shooting. Panguipulli is best known for its nearby hot springs, lakes, and glacier-fed volcanoes.
