Colombian capital Bogota explodes in anti-police riots after tasered man dies
- In clip reminiscent of George Floyd video that sparked protests worldwide, lawyer Javier Ordonez is heard begging for mercy as officers repeatedly taser him
- Seven killed in demonstrations overnight, with more than 20 police stations torched, buses destroyed and banks attacked
Seven people were killed in protests against police brutality in and around the Colombian capital of Bogota overnight, triggered by a widely shared video of officers repeatedly tasering a man begging for mercy while onlookers filmed and urged the police to back off.
More than 20 police stations were torched, buses were destroyed and banks attacked.
Some 114 police officers and 248 civilians were injured – 58 by firearms – in last night’s unrest, Colombian authorities said.
The tasered man, Javier Ordonez, who is heard murmuring “Please no more” while armed officers overwhelm him, died several hours later.
The clip was reminiscent of the events around the death of George Floyd during an arrest in the US city of Minneapolis in May, which began months of protests across America.
Before Covid-19, demonstrations had been spreading in Colombia, some of them focused on police abuse.