Guatemala Electoral Violence: Incendiary Bomb Attack on Voting Centers Leads to Arrests and Pretrial Detention

2023-08-21 23:21:02

On Sunday, August 20, during voting day for the second electoral round in Guatemala, an incendiary bomb was thrown into a classroom where polling station 2,926 was working at the polling station at the Municipal Educational Center (CEM), in the area 4 of Mixco.

Authorities reported the capture of two people for this incident and the rapid action of lifeguards prevented the fire from affecting the table where the votes were.

According to the authorities’ report, unknown persons entered the voting center and threw the Molotov cocktail inside the compound and then fled.

The detainees were identified as José Manuel Gutiérrez and Daniel Isaac Tumin.

This Monday, August 21, a judge sent them to pretrial detention. They were also issued an indictment for the crimes of disturbance of an electoral act and terrorism.

On the day of the incident, the Municipal Firefighters used an extinguisher to control the fire, at the scene, they also treated people who suffered a nervous breakdown.

another similar case

The Volunteer Firefighters reported that another similar incident with explosive devices was recorded at the polling station at the Las Colinas school, San Rafael 3, zone 18.

The device was launched a few minutes after the end of the second electoral round.

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Lifeguards did not report injuries, but they did attend to people affected by a nervous breakdown.

This August 21, the Public Ministry (MP) reported that prosecutors are already working on the investigation of two events that occurred on Sunday in polling centers in Mixco and zone 18 of the capital where men threw incendiary bombs.

#CBMInforma #Fire

2nd avenue and 7th Calle Colonia Monserrat 1, Zone 4 of Mixco.

They throw a homemade bomb at a polling station, elements of @bomberosmuni they used an extinguisher to control the fire, in the place people presenting nervous breakdown are treated. pic.twitter.com/WVQlBmfdkH

— Municipal Firefighters (@bomberosmuni) August 20, 2023

Another similar attack with explosive devices occurred in the voting center located in the Las Colinas school, San Rafael 3, zone 18.

Only several people with nervous breakdown were evaluated. #CVBalService pic.twitter.com/s6K9ymZSzR

– Volunteer Firefighters (@BVoluntariosGT) August 20, 2023