Police Thwart Van Robbery in Villa María del Triunfo; Officer and 2 Suspects Injured in Shootout

A tense confrontation unfolded in Villa María del Triunfo, Peru, when police intervened to stop an attempted van robbery. Agents from the National Police of Peru (PNP) engaged in a shootout with a group of alleged criminals who were holding the vehicle's driver at gunpoint. The exchange of fire occurred on Avenida 27 de Diciembre, near the Central 2 market, creating a scene of panic among shoppers and passersby.

The intervention by the PNP's Intelligence and Robbery divisions caught the armed suspects by surprise. According to police reports, the individuals responded to the police presence by firing their weapons, prompting officers to return fire to prevent the suspects from escaping with the van. The gun battle lasted for several minutes, forcing nearby merchants and customers to seek shelter.

During the clash, a second lieutenant of the PNP sustained gunshot wounds, as did two of the alleged gang members. All three injured individuals were rushed to the Villa El Salvador Emergency Hospital. The two suspects are under police custody at the medical facility while investigations continue to reconstruct the attempted robbery, identify potential accomplices, and determine the exact circumstances of the shootout and the weapons used.