Approximately 80 Bogota merchants who vandalized a station of the Colombian capital’s mass transit system Transmilenio could be charged with terrorism, said the Bogota Police commissioner, General Francisco Patiño Saturday.
In an interview with Caracol Radio, Patiño announced that there is a $10,000 award for information leading to the arrest of the rioters and that the six persons who were arrested could be charged not just with vandalism, but also with terrorism.
“In the case of yesterday, we are thinking of… [charging] them with more than damaging public property and other acts of vandalism. I think a terrorism trial should be held,” the police official told the radio station.
The midday riot that injured the driver of a Transmilenio bus and caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage was reportedly instigated by traders and sellers in the commercial sector of San Andresito, who were protesting against the increased control measures from national customs and tax agency DIAN.
