MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Two killed in shoot-out following intentional looting derailment of train in Buenos Aires

The train was carrying automobile parts (Photo Clarin)

Argentine security officials acknowledged that, “an armed group” was responsible for the “intentional derailment” of the freight train incident that occurred Thursday in the province of Buenos Aires causing a violent outbreak between locals and police, with at least two people killed and various injured.

Provincial Security Minister Ricardo Casal said that a provincial Police officer has been “kept in custody” for having killed a youth in an attempt to repress the situation after the train derailed, amongst the unrest.

“It remains clear that the group knew exactly what the train was carrying, thus they made their attempt to plunder the contents. An eye-witness revealed that the armed gang comes from a close by shantytown, who shot out against the train and police”, mentioned Casal.

“We hope that the Court can order the capture and arrest of the band members involved in this incident. They are well-known in the area, and many witnesses have testified their identities” said Casal.

According to police reports the train was carrying automobile parts and rocks were deliberately put on the rails to cause the accident.

Two youths, one of them a minor, were shot to death while at least one other person was seriously injured. One of the youths, a 16-year-old, was dead on arrival at a local hospital, while the other died a few minutes after reaching the emergency room at another hospital.

The residents of the shantytown later attacked several businesses in the area, including a construction company, according to images broadcast by local television stations.
 

Several people were arrested in the clashes when residents and relatives of the dead, wounded and those in police custody continued to protest in the area, concluded the police report.