U.S. citizen arrested in Colombia over alleged child sexual abuse

Bogota authorities arrested a U.S. citizen on Sunday accused of sexually abusing a 7-year-old boy on a balcony in the capital city.

“

He's abusing the child, let him go!

The suspect, a 36-year-old man from Texas, was allegedly caught in the act by passersby who shouted at him to stop. A video of the incident circulated widely on social media, showing a man holding a child near a balcony railing. "He's abusing the child, let him go!" a woman filming the video can be heard saying.

Bogota Mayor Carlos Galan confirmed the arrest, stating there is "no room for mistreatment or abuse of boys and girls." Three children were found in the suspect's apartment and are now in the care of Colombia's state agency for child protection. Sources suggest the suspect may have adopted the children.

“

there was "no room for mistreatment or abuse of boys and girls."

The incident has triggered significant outrage, with dozens gathering at the suspect's building to demand justice. President Gustavo Petro called for Colombia to introduce visas to prevent "pedophiles" from entering the country, highlighting a growing concern over foreign nationals exploiting children. Colombian authorities reported turning away around 100 foreigners for sex tourism in the first half of 2026.

“

Colombia needed to introduce visas to prevent "pedophiles" from entering the country.