Chile: Unrest, clashes reported in multiple areas of Santiago as of late Sept. 11

Police in Santiago are responding to incidents of unrest and clashes in a number of areas of Santiago as of late Sept. 11; reports suggest participants are acting to denounce the anniversary of General Augusto Pinochet coming to power on September 11, 1973.

Police have reported incidents of looting, gunshots, vandalism, and detonated fireworks in the Cerro Navia area near the intersection of Mapocho and Huelen. In the Huechuraba area, crowds have fired shots at the 54th Police Station and thrown objects. In the San Bernardo area, activists have erected barricades on Colon Avenue near the 62nd Police Station and have thrown stones. Gunshots have also been reported in Pedro Aguirre Cerda near Clotario Blest Avenue and Departamental Avenue. Activists have lit fires near the site of some incidents of unrest.

Police have deployed the Public Order Control Police (Carabinero de Control de Orden Publico, COP) to disperse the crowds and have warned the public to take shelter near affected areas. There have been no reports of casualties yet. Traffic disruptions are ongoing near areas of unrest.

Unrest and clashes may occur at other locations throughout Santiago over the coming hours. A heightened security deployment is almost certain in affected areas over the coming hours as police seek to disperse the crowds, arrest suspects, secure the area, and investigate the incident. Localized transit and business disruptions are almost certain over the coming hours. Further vandalism is likely; further acts of violence are possible.