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Two officers wounded in Montevideo robbery operation; third remains critical
🇺🇾 Uruguay /Crime & Justice

Two officers wounded in Montevideo robbery operation; third remains critical

From El País · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Two police officers were shot and wounded during an operation responding to a residential robbery in Montevideo.
  • A third officer, shot the previous day in Peñarol, remains in critical condition.
  • The incidents have led to criticism of the Interior Ministry's ability to protect law enforcement officers.

Two police officers sustained gunshot wounds Friday during an operation in Montevideo responding to a robbery at a residential building. These officers are now added to the toll of law enforcement casualties, with another agent shot the previous day in the Peñarol neighborhood currently in intensive care.

Three police officers shot in less than 24 hours.

— Nicolás MartinelliSenator commenting on the recent attacks on police officers.

The officers arrived at the scene after receiving a report of intruders inside a residential property. A shootout ensued, resulting in both officers being hit by gunfire. One officer was shot in the leg, potentially suffering a fracture, while the other sustained more serious injuries and required surgery. The latter officer was hit twice, once in the shoulder and once in the chest, with the chest projectile reportedly penetrating a vulnerable area not covered by his bulletproof vest.

Minister of the Interior, Carlos Negro, visited the hospital where the more severely injured officer was taken, though the ministry declined to provide further details. This incident follows a Thursday morning attack in Peñarol where an officer, traveling in an unmarked vehicle for an investigation, was shot from a nearby residence. That officer is also hospitalized in intensive care.

officials are not numbers, but men and women who go out every day to protect Uruguayans, putting their own lives at risk.

— Nicolás MartinelliSenator emphasizing the personal sacrifice of police officers.

Senator Nicolás Martinelli, a former Interior Minister, expressed concern on social media, highlighting that "three police officers shot in less than 24 hours." He emphasized that officers are "men and women who go out every day to protect Uruguayans, risking their own lives." Martinelli questioned the leadership of the Interior Ministry and the new Montevideo police chief, asking how they intend to protect citizens if they cannot safeguard those tasked with their protection. He also characterized the current period as "the most violent semester in the last eight years" and urged President Yamandú Orsi to "make other decisions."

If you cannot protect those who have the responsibility to protect us, how do you plan to protect the rest of the citizens?

— Nicolás MartinelliSenator questioning the effectiveness of the Interior Ministry's leadership.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El País in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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