Arian-Lince, Peru — An Indonesian diplomat was shot and killed in Lima, Peru, a city grappling with a severe crime wave. The murder occurred in the Lince district, a neighborhood known for being relatively safe and home to a number of Korean expatriates.
Peruvian police confirmed on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on September 2nd that they are investigating the murder of a diplomat from the Indonesian Embassy in Peru. Authorities have initiated an operation to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
The victim, identified as 40-year-old Setro Leonardo Purba, was attacked on the evening of September 1st. Purba was riding his bicycle home near Ramón Castilla Park when two assailants on a motorcycle shot him. The incident was captured on nearby surveillance cameras.
While some local outlets initially misidentified the victim as the Indonesian ambassador, Peruvian police clarified this was not the case. According to the police, the murder appears to be the first contract killing in the Lince district this year.
The Lince neighborhood is considered one of Lima's safer areas and is home to a number of Korean residents, restaurants, and shops. In response to the incident, the South Korean Embassy in Peru issued a safety notice advising its citizens to be vigilant, especially when walking, and to move to crowded areas if approached by a suspicious person. The embassy also urged Koreans to avoid unnecessary nighttime outings.
The murder highlights Peru's ongoing struggle with escalating violent crime. Official government statistics show a significant increase in homicides, with the number of murders rising from 1,508 in 2023 to 2,059 last year, a jump of more than 35%. The country has also seen a high turnover of interior ministers, with 13 different officials holding the position over the past four years, making it difficult to maintain consistent security policies. The current Minister of the Interior, Carlos Malaver, a former police officer, has been in office since May 13th.
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