Fire bomb destroys bank in Concepción

CONCEPCIÓN.- A Santander Santiago bank branch located across from the Universidad de Concepción was completely destroyed this morning after it was attacked by a group of hooded individuals using an incendiary bomb.

It addition to burning down the bank office, the suspects painted slanderous graffiti against the late General Bernales:  “Bernales Mapuche justice exists CAM” and other messages demanding that Héctor Llaitul, whose trial began today in Temuco, be freed.  Llaitul is charged with setting fire to forest machinery in 2006.

It took five firefighting squads to control the blaze.  Police, federal investigators and Mario Elgueta, a public attorney assigned exclusively to Mapuche-related cases, are currently working at the scene.

The attack occurred at 7:10 AM this morning when a group of approximately 15 individuals put up barricades and distributed pamphlets in front of the university campus, which was also attacked – leaving the front windows of the Cultural Center destroyed.