Peru: One Dead, over 100 Injured in Protests Against New Government
One person was killed and more than 100 others injured in Lima, Peru, during clashes that erupted overnight Wednesday following youth-led demonstrations against the country’s new government, the Peruvian presidency said Thursday.
“I regret the death of Eduardo Ruiz Sanz, 32,” said Peru’s interim president, José Jeri, after thousands took to the streets nationwide to voice anger over the unprecedented surge in murders and extortion linked to organized crime.
Protesters marched in Lima, Arequipa, Cusco, and Puno, denouncing political leaders and the growing influence of criminal networks amid a wave of extortion and killings across the country.
The security crisis led to the swift impeachment of President Dina Boluarte last Friday. Congress leader José Jeri subsequently assumed the interim presidency until July 2026.
As night fell, some demonstrators tried to topple the security barriers outside Congress, according to local media. Police responded with tear gas and baton charges, clashing with groups throwing stones and fireworks at the officers.
