Incident Summary:

05/13/2020: Assailants stopped a passenger bus transporting forestry workers along Route 5 South in Pidima, Ercilla, Araucania, Chile. The assailants forced the passengers to disembark and used the bus to block the road, stopping three trucks. There were no reported casualties, but three vehicles, including the bus and two trucks, were set on fire and another truck was damaged by gunfire. This was one of two similar incidents in this area on this day. Mapuche activists claimed responsibility for the attack and called for the release of eight Mapuche prisoners, who were detained for involvement in rural violence.

GTD ID:
202005130018

When:
2020-05-13

Country:
Chile

Region:
South America

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Araucania

City:
Pidima

Location Details:
The incident occurred along Route 5 South in Ercilla district.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Hijacking
Type of Attack (more) Facility/Infrastructure Attack
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Unknown
Specific Description Trucks
Nationality of Target Chile
Target Type: Transportation
Name of Entity Unknown
Specific Description Bus
Nationality of Target Chile
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Rifle/Shotgun (non-automatic)
Incendiary Arson/Fire
Weapon Details
Shotguns and fire were used in the attack.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Mapuche extremists Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Note left at scene)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"The frustrated visit to the Angol prison that ended with a violent attack," CE Noticias Financieras English, May 15, 2020.
"Araucanía: Government unveils three complaints over attacks that left five trucks burned," CE Noticias Financieras English, May 14, 2020.
"Intendent calls as "terrorist" new incendiary attack in La Araucanía," CE Noticias Financieras English, May 13, 2020.