2023-08-23 04:16:02
BUENOS ARES (AP) — At least 56 people were arrested Tuesday for looting supermarkets in different parts of Buenos Aires, and which according to the authorities were incited through social networks in order to destabilize.
The Buenos Aires Minister of Security, Sergio Berni, explained that at nightfall there were robbery attempts “in a coordinated manner” in shopping centers in the suburbs of Moreno, José C. Paz and Escobar. One of the supermarkets was razed and the assailants set it on fire, according to local television footage. No injuries or casualties were reported.
“I have no doubt that it has been organized,” said the official at a press conference early Wednesday morning. “After a bombardment throughout the day inciting these episodes of violence. There are people who are stupid enough to think that the worse the better”.
Argentina is in the middle of an electoral campaign towards the general elections in October, while the country registers a poverty rate of 40% and that is increasing hand in hand with year-on-year inflation of 113.4%, according to the last measurement of July.
Similar episodes were recorded over the weekend in the provinces of Córdoba, Mendoza and Neuquén. Many businesses in the Once and Flores neighborhoods of the capital — characteristic for their cheap clothing stores — altered their routines on Tuesday for fear of looting.
The mayors of other municipalities in Buenos Aires also denounced that false messages and news regarding looting circulated throughout the day. The spread of these rumors led merchants to lower their blinds before closing time for fear of theft.
Berni explained that some of the people arrested will be accused of “robbery in town and gang”, a crime that has a sentence of 15 years in prison.
Earlier, the spokeswoman for the presidency Gabriela Cerruti denounced that these episodes were instigated by followers of the far-right candidate Javier Milei, from La Libertad Avanza, who is emerging as one of the favorites for the presidential elections following obtaining the largest number of votes in the primaries on Sunday, August 13.
“The political sign does not matter: the governors in all the provinces have warned that they are political and criminal actions instigated from this sector,” Cerruti said on social networks. “Democracy is a good for everyone, and we are going to defend it once morest these authoritarian and violent people.”
Milei denied the accusations.
“Although the situation is delicate, this does not endorse violence. If we understand that a different Argentina is impossible with the same as always, a large part of the solution is close, ”he said on the X social network, previously known as Twitter.
According to the authorities, the situation was under control, although the police continued to patrol and four helicopters flew over the suburbs.
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