Colombian police arrest alleged suspect in Peru mine workers' killings
Police in Colombia have arrested the alleged main suspect in the murder of 13 kidnapped workers at a gold mine in neighbouring Peru.Miguel Antonio Rodríguez Díaz, whose alias is "Cuchillo" (knife), was arrested in the city of Medellin in a joint operation between the two countries and Interpol, according to Peru's interior ministry and Colombian police.The bodies of the miners were recovered on 4 May from a tunnel at a mine in the Pataz district of Peru.A lawyer for Mr Diaz has denied his involvement in the killings.
Peru is one of the largest gold producers in Latin America and has seen a surge in violence from illegal miners and organised criminal gangs. The 13 men killed in Pataz had been sent to confront a group which had attacked and occupied the mine but were ambushed and seized as they were trying to regain control of it, Peruvian authorities said.Mr Diaz is suspected of allegedly ordering the storming of the mine's entrance, with the aim of stealing gold extracted by miners, Peru's interior ministry said in a statement.He is accused of "organised crime, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated homicide", it added.A video posted by authorities showed him being detained by armed police in a busy downtown area of Medellin.Colombian police chief Carlos Triana said Mr Diaz was located with the support of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and was subject to an Interpol red notice.Peru's interior ministry said they expected Mr Diaz to be extradited to Peru in the coming days.La Poderosa, which owns the mine where the murders took place, previously said 39 people with links to the company have been killed by criminal gangs in Pataz in total.This most recent attack prompted Peru's President Dina Boluarte to impose a night-time curfew in Pataz and to suspend mining activities for a month. Extra police and soldiers were also sent to the region.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Australia's mushroom murder trial
Last week, in a trial followed all over Australia and across the world, Erin Patterson took the stand. She is accused of three counts of murder, and one of attempted murder, allegedly by poisoning her relatives with deadly mushrooms inside four separate dishes of beef wellington. As the Guardian Australia justice and courts reporter Nino Bucci explains, Patterson has always denied the charges. Though she admits the lunch she prepared in July 2023 killed her in-laws – as well as her estranged husband's aunt – she maintains it was a tragic accident. As Michael Safi hears, it is a case that has drawn worldwide attention – from daily news reports to dozens of podcast series – and one that is due to reach a verdict soon.
BreakingNews.ie
8 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Justice Minister voices concern over time taken to find Tina Satchwell's body
Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has raised concern with the Garda Commissioner over how long it took to find the body of murder victim Tina Satchwell. Jim O'Callaghan also said it would be preferable if An Garda Síochána had its own cadaver dog to help find human remains. Advertisement He said there is currently just one cadaver dog on the island of Ireland which belongs to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has raised concerns (Brian Lawless/PA) It was announced last week that both the investigation into the murder of Mrs Satchwell, and of Co Kerry farmer Michael Gaine, will be reviewed. A report is to be compiled and given to Mr O'Callaghan on Mrs Satchwell's disappearance while the case of Mr Gaine is undergoing a peer review. Speaking on RTÉ Radio One's This Week programme, Mr O'Callaghan said he had his quarterly meeting with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris last week and brought up the murder of Mrs Satchwell. Advertisement 'I think from the outset it has to be said that gardai deserve to be commended for getting justice in this case,' he said. 'The person responsible for her murder, Richard Satchwell, is now serving a life sentence. 'However I did raise with the commissioner concern about the fact it had taken a considerable period of time to find her body and he said he is going to prepare a report on that.' It took six years before Mrs Satchwell's body was found. Advertisement Mr O'Callaghan pointed out there are 'very devious people out there who go to very great lengths to hide their crimes'. 'That was the case with Richard Satchwell, and it is also the case with the person responsible for the murder of Mike Gaine who hasn't yet been apprehended,' he said. Asked whether a cadaver dog should have been brought into the Satchwell home in 2017 during the investigation, Mr O'Callaghan said 'probably, it should have happened'. He said he also spoke to Mr Harris about the effectiveness of cadaver dogs. Advertisement 'They're a very specialised dog in terms of trying to train them, there is one on the island of Ireland, the PSNI has one,' he said. 'That dog is sought by many police forces in Britain as well. We got the use of the dog here and he was of much assistance. 'It obviously would be preferable if we had a cadaver dog. They have a very limited work life, cadaver dogs, they're only operational for a period of about three years, they have to go through a very difficult training process. 'It would be preferable if the cadaver dog available on the island had been used earlier.' Advertisement
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Authorities release new images of Travis Decker, who is wanted for murdering his three young daughters
Washington State police released new images of the dad accused of murdering his three daughters as they continue their search for the former Army soldier. Travis Decker, 32, is wanted for the murder of his children Paityn, nine, Evelyn, eight, and Olivia, five. Authorities started searching for Decker's daughters after they failed to return home from a scheduled visit with him on May 30. On Monday, the sisters' lifeless bodies were discovered at a campsite in Leavenworth - about 20 miles from their home. Their wrists had been bound with zip ties and each of them had been suffocated with a plastic bag. A massive manhunt is underway for the missing father, and the Chelan County Sheriff's Office released new images of Decker on Saturday. An updated wanted poster showed Decker wearing a tan shirt with the number 59 on the sleeve, dark shorts, flip flops with his hair tied back, carrying pizza boxes. The poster also included close up photos of Decker's tattoos on his arms and ankle, and stated that Decker was 'last seen wearing tan or green t-shirt, dark shorts.' 'Updated photos of murder suspect Travis Decker, who is considered dangerous and may be armed. Do not approach, call 911 immediately,' the poster stated. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office announced they would be removing road blocks and reopening roads after hundreds of law enforcement personnel search dozes of structures and the forest. 'However, we ask the public to remain vigilant at they venture back out to the recreation areas of Chelan County,' the sheriff's office said. 'We ask that the public help continue to help us in this search. Please review your doorbell cameras and security cameras for signs of Mr. Decker. 'If you are out in the woods, or recreation areas, and come across something you believe would be beneficial for law enforcement, note the time and location and mark the location on your electronic devices if possible.' After finding the girls, investigators 'obtained and served multiple search warrants for records contained in Decker's Google accounts,' leading them to discover that the 32-year-old appeared to be planning how to relocate to Canada, according to an affidavit reviewed by the Independent. In the affidavit, Deputy U.S. Marshal Keegan Stanley wrote that Decker made several searches on May 26, including: 'how does a person move to Canada,' 'how to relocate to Canada' and 'jobs Canada.' The father, who remains on the run, then visited the website 'Find a job - Stanley detailed. Authorities started searching for Decker's daughters after they failed to return home from a scheduled visit with him on May 30 His daughters' remains were also found 'relatively close to the Canadian border and approximately 11 miles from the Pacific Crest Trail, a well-established trail that leads directly to Canada,' per the affidavit. Decker, who is wanted on three counts each of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping, also 'has training in navigation, woodland/mountainous terrain, long distance movements, survival and numerous other disciplines needed to be able to flee,' the affidavit continued. 'Prior to the above alleged crimes, Decker frequently recreated in outdoor, woodland and mountainous areas throughout the Eastern District of Washington and surrounding states,' it read. 'Amongst other outdoorsman activities, Decker frequently engaged in hiking, camping, survival skill practice, hunting and even lived off the grid in the backwoods for approximately 2.5 months on one occasion.'
