Peru Declares State of Emergency in Five Prisons

On Saturday, Peru declared a state of emergency in five maximum-security prisons. A government decree allows the police and the military to take control of these facilities in response to public safety concerns.

The 60-day measure was issued by the government of President Keiko Fujimori, who took office in late July. Its aim is to combat criminal organizations that continue to operate from behind prison walls.

According to the government, approximately 50% of the inmates in the five affected prisons have ties to criminal organizations. The military and police will also be authorized to secure the airspace and monitor electromagnetic spectrum in the immediate vicinity of the prisons.

The measure comes at a time of rising crime. Peru's homicide rate rose last year to 10.7 per 100,000 residents, up from 10.1 in 2024. Last Sunday, gunmen disguised as police officers killed four people in the north of the country and kidnapped a businessman from the mining sector. Police said he was released a few hours later after a ransom was paid.

At the same time, the government asked Congress for legislative authority for 120 days to designate criminal organizations as "terrorist". However, the opposition raised objections to the request.

(Reuters, max)