Peru: 152 dead in public transport attacks in Lima over two years

Extortion-related attacks on public transportation in Peru's capital, Lima, and the neighboring province of Callao have claimed 152 lives and injured 131 people over a nearly two-year period. The grim statistics, covering August 2024 to May 2026, were released by Peru's Public Prosecutor's Office.

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These districts also register high levels of reports for extortion, aggravated homicide, and contract killing.

An analysis by the Office of the Observatory of Criminality revealed that 283 individuals were affected during this timeframe. The report highlighted that 126 of these attacks occurred between January and May of the current year, with 87 resulting in fatalities or injuries. These violent incidents have been concentrated in densely populated districts such as San Juan de Lurigancho, Comas, and San Juan de Miraflores, areas also known for high rates of extortion, aggravated homicide, and contract killings.

The overwhelming majority of attacks, 94.4%, were directed at public transport vehicles, including buses, "combis" (minivans), and motorcycle taxis. Drivers, passengers, and fare collectors were the primary targets. The report also indicated that firearms were used in 97.7% of the attacks involving victims, and motorcycles served as the main getaway vehicle in 60.3% of cases. More than half of these violent acts, 58.4%, took place at night.

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Those who provide and use public transport daily are the most exposed to this criminal modality.

Public transport users and operators remain the most vulnerable to this criminal activity. Drivers accounted for 69.3% of victims, followed by passengers at 20.5% and fare collectors at 5.3%. Despite a 60-day extension of the state of emergency in Lima and Callao, declared on June 25, authorities acknowledge the persistence of criminal actions and citizen insecurity, driven by offenses like homicide, contract killing, and extortion. The state of emergency, in place since September 2024, allows police to maintain internal order with military support and restricts certain constitutional rights.

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The persistence of criminal action and citizen insecurity, derived from the commission of crimes of homicide, contract killing, extortion, and other situations of violence.