Los Maniceros massacre
| Los Maniceros massacre | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Táchira, Venezuela |
Attack type | Kidnapping and murder |
| Deaths | At least 10 |
| Injured | At least 1 |
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
The Los Maniceros massacre was the 2009 kidnapping of twelve members of a Colombian amateur association football team Los Maniceros (The Peanut Men), ten of whom were later murdered. The dead were aged between 17 and 38.[1]
There is only one known survivor, the 19-year-old Manuel Cortez from Colombia[1][2] with a bullet wound through his neck,[1] while one other person is missing.[3] The ten bodies were discovered in several locations across Táchira in the neighbouring country of Venezuela, according to Venezuela's Vice President Ramon Carrizalez.[3] The kidnapped men were of Colombian, Peruvian and Venezuelan origin.[2][4]
Venezuela is on high alert following the incident,[1] with troops in the area ordered to "act forcefully" against any armed Colombian group.[5]
Kidnapping
The men, nutsellers by trade,[6] were kidnapped and thrown into vans on 11 October 2009 in La Tala, Venezuela, where they had come for a football match.[3][2] The kidnappers were disguised in black clothing and called the men's names before seizing them from a field on which they had been playing football.[1] Their bodies were discovered on 24 October 2009 with several bullet wounds.[6]
Survivor
Manuel Cortez is currently the only known survivor, with the condition of the missing man uncertain. Security has been increased in fear for the safety of Cortez.[1] A man was arrested after requesting to see him in the hospital and Cortez was quickly placed under guard at a separate military hospital.[1] He claims they were all chained by their necks to trees and had spent two weeks in this condition outdoors in the sun.[1]
Suspects
The main suspect is the National Liberation Army (ELN), with Cortez blaming the group for the massacre.[2][4][6][7] He said they had been lured into the group's territory by its leader.[4] A motive has not yet been uncovered.[7]
Reaction
Colombia: President Álvaro Uribe called it a "deplorable act".[8] He said the massacre was an example that showed "terrorism is international, that it has no borders".[1] He expressed his hope that authorities would "take those terrorists to jail".[1]
Venezuela: Vice President Ramon Carrizalez linked the attack to Colombia's domestic troubles.[9][10]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Ian James (2009-10-26). "Venezuela ups border security after 10 slayings". Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
- ^ a b c d "Bodies found of 10 kidnap victims in Venezuela". Radio Netherlands Worldwide. 2009-10-25. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ a b c "Colombian soccer players found dead in Venezuela". Reuters India. 2009-10-25. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ a b c "Colombian footballers found dead in Venezuela". Press TV. 2009-10-25. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ Ian James (2009-10-25). "Venezuela ups border security after 10 slayings". Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
- ^ a b c Will Grant (2009-10-24). "Colombian football team 'killed'". BBC. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ a b "Kidnapped local Colombian football team found dead". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Soccer team slayings fuel Venezuela-Colombia rift". The Washington Times. 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Ten kidnapped footballers are found shot dead". The Independent. 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Ten Colombian amateur soccer players killed in Venezuela". MercoPress. 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2009-10-26.