Peru's Interior Minister affirms that the operation at the University of San Marcos "was justified"

MADRID, 23 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Peruvian Interior Minister, Vicente Romero, affirmed this Sunday that the police operation this weekend at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM), in Lima, was justified, despite the accusations of not having complied with legal procedures.

"I have requested a detailed report on the intervention, but it has been justified by law," he indicated in an interview in which he clarified that if there is any breach, those responsible will be established.

Romero explained that the operation took place within the framework of the state of emergency, which is why the presence of prosecutors was not necessary for the intervention.

"There was flagrante delicto and a state of emergency, when there is flagrante delicto the National Police immediately intervenes, when there is flagrante delicto there is no need for the presence of the Prosecutor's Office," said the head of the Interior.

Around 400 police officers with tanks and the support of special forces stormed the university located in the capital of the country, without complying with the legal procedures for arrests.

Through an institutional statement, the UNMSM have indicated that they requested police intervention due to a complaint of aggression against private security, for which they requested the "release of the doors taken."

"On Saturday, January 21, the National Police of Peru, in an evident use of force, entered the university campus, without the presence of the Ombudsman's Office or the representative of the Public Ministry. Therefore, we denounce the abuse of authority towards our intervened students", reads the letter.

The minister, who pointed out that the intervention was motivated to "provide security", stressed that during the operation "there was not a single injury" by the security agents.

For Romero, the work of the Police during these days of anti-government demonstrations in Peru has been "exceptional", while he has opined that last week's mass march -- known as the 'Toma de Lima' -- was a failure.