Bus full of passengers shot at in Peru amid ongoing extortion

A bus operated by the Nueva América transport company was targeted in a shooting incident Wednesday night in the San Juan de Miraflores district of Peru. The attack happened around 8:35 p.m. at a stop known as El Hueco on Edilberto Ramos Avenue. Two individuals on a moving vehicle fired directly at the driver's seat, causing panic among the passengers inside, who were forced to duck for cover.

Sources close to the company revealed that Nueva América had already been paying protection fees to a criminal organization operating in the southern Lima region. Despite these payments, the bus company faced this latest violent act. The perpetrators reportedly did not exit their vehicle, executing the attack swiftly before fleeing the scene. The location of the attack, in an area with low nighttime traffic, may have been chosen for its relative isolation.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of extortion affecting transport companies in Lima. Nueva América has been a target of criminal organizations demanding payments, and the company is now evaluating another suspension of services to ensure the safety of its employees and passengers. Records indicate at least three similar attacks on the company between 2024 and 2025, including the fatal shooting of a driver in September last year. The ongoing threat has led the company to consider halting operations once more.