Overview
- School staff found a black plastic bag at I.E. Virgen del Carmen in Alto Trujillo containing two red dynamite cartridges and an extortion note that listed a phone number beginning with the Colombian country code +57.
- Udex technicians removed the explosives and, hours after the discovery, unknown individuals fired about six shots at the school's main gate, leaving no identified suspects.
- Regional education authorities suspended in-person classes at the school and moved instruction online through August 28 to protect students and staff.
- The PNP's Divincri formed an extortion investigation unit and increased patrols and intelligence operations while the regional security council (Coresec) approved new technology purchases, targeted operations and penitentiary actions to strengthen school protection.
- Local officials suspect the extortion is linked to planned remodeling works at the school worth more than 40 million soles, and authorities say the episode is one of seven similar attacks on La Libertad schools this year.