Extortion closes 325 schools in Peru; Parents teach children how to hide with shots

“So far, we have (…) 500 schools extorted” at national level, tells AFP Giannina Miranda, president of the Collective Educar with Freedom, which represents the threatened colleges in Peru.

Of this total, 325 were forced to close indefinitely and take virtual classes, she added.

The gangs imposed fear and silence in school environments, according to teachers and parents of students who spoke under anonymity conditions.

“It is practically as a pandemic but with weapons,” says one father 40 years after accompanying his 13 son to the San Vicente College, in the District of Comas, north of Lima.

Outside, a group of five military and police watched the arrival of the students.

Fear

In the first week of March, the institution that receives 1,200 students was attacked with an explosive. The attack left no victims, but caused damage to the main door and forced them to join online classes.