Chile, shocked by the murder of three police officers in an ambush: "It is the most brutal attack in memory"

The Chilean nation is in shock after the news broke of the brutal murder of three carabineros (militarized police) in the Bíobío region. These uniformed officers fell victim to a heinous act, lured to a highway under the false pretense of a distress call, only to meet their demise. Their charred bodies were discovered inside a truck, sending shockwaves through the country.

Ricardo Yáñez, the General Director of the Carabineros, expressed his anguish, stating, “Killing a police officer is killing the soul of Chile. In my 38 years of service, I have never witnessed the death of not one, but three officers, cruelly murdered on the day of our anniversary.” In light of this tragedy, the celebration of the Carabineros’ 97th anniversary has been suspended.

The deliberate targeting of these officers has raised concerns, prompting Yáñez to call for action. He declared, “This was not a coincidence; it was not random. Enough is enough. The only thing we do is fight for the safety of our fellow countrymen.”

President Gabriel Boric, who personally visited Cañete in the Bíobío region, has declared three days of national mourning. This triple murder is a major setback for Boric, who had initially pledged the demilitarization of southern regions but had to reverse his decision due to continued violence perpetrated by armed indigenous groups.

The Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá, expressed her grief, stating, “This attack undermines the extensive efforts made in the Southern Macrozone to end violence, seek peaceful paths, and resolve issues.” Despite the severity of the attack, Tohá emphasized that it should not dissuade them from their ongoing efforts. She asserted, “Attacks like this only strengthen our resolve; they reaffirm that violence is never the answer to Chileans’ problems.”

Evelyn Matthei, a prominent figure in the right-wing opposition, urged the left-wing government led by Boric to take responsibility for the situation. She described the tragedy as an “absolute tragedy” and called for decisive action against terrorism in southern Chile.

Matthei emphasized, “Condolences alone are no longer sufficient. The government must take political responsibility instead of mere sorrowful words, which cannot bring back the cowardly murdered Carabineros.”

José Antonio Kast, a leader of the hard right and Boric’s opponent in the December 2021 election, went even further, demanding a state of siege be declared and the dismissal of Minister Tohá.

Kast impassionedly stated, “The time has come to take decisive action. President Gabriel Boric must declare a state of siege today. Call upon the Armed Forces and the police to relentlessly pursue these murderers, bringing them to justice and applying the full force of the law. But that alone is not enough. The President must also dismiss his security team.”