Guerrillas dress as waiters to take 490 party guests hostage
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Well-armed left-wing guerrillas were holding up to 490 politicians, senior diplomats and top businessmen hostage in Peru early today. But they released four ambassadors - from Germany, Canada, Greece and France - as a gesture of goodwill.
They had threatened to kill all the hostages and then themselves, after a daring assault on a diplomatic Christmas party at the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima's wealthy San Isidro district.
The 20 or so masked guerrillas of the Tupac Amaru Liberation Movement (MRTA) apparently fired a rocket at the building and stormed over its back wall, while others masquerading as waiters produced weapons from cases of champagne. The guerrillas were demanding the release of up to 500 group members and said they would start the killing with Peru's Foreign Minister, Francisco Tudela, if President Alberto Fujimori did not personally hear their demands.
A first deadline for killing Mr Tudela at 20 minutes after midday (5.20pm GMT) yesterday, passed without incident.
"We are clear. The liberation of all our comrades, or we die with the all the hostages," one rebel told a local radio station by phone.
Another described the hostages as prisoners of war. They said they had planted explosives around the inside perimiter of the residence's gardens to discourage a military rescue attempt.
Early today food was taken in and the rebels and hostages, held in groups in various salons, bedrooms and even bathrooms, settled in for a second night. Foreign governments urged Mr Fujimori, known for his tough line against guerrillas, not to contemplate a military assault. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar said an attack would lead to a "massacre". At the same time, there were unconfirmed reports that anti-terrorist commandos in several countries were on stand-by to fly to Lima.
As well as seeking the freedom of members, the guerrillas were demanding transport for themselves and the freed prisoner to a jungle hideout, an unspecified "war tax" - presumably a large sum of cash - and a reversal of Mr Fujimori"s free market economic policies.
Britain's ambassador, John Illman, had just left the reception but his number two, Roger Church, 50, was held. Two hostages and a guerrilla were reported to have been wounded.
A Financial Times correspondent, Sally Bowen, a Briton, was at the party but was released soon after the assault, along with other women guests, said to include Mr Fujimori's mother and sister.
Stroke of genius, page 11
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments