Colombia police assaulted five journalists, NGO says

Police assaulted five journalists during recent protests in Colombia, the Foundation for Press Freedom said Thursday.

The Colombia-based press freedom group, known as FLIP, said it documented physical assaults and arbitrary arrests of journalists covering protests between October 14 and 18. It said the incidents happened in Medellin, Ibague and Bogota.

The protests were held against the US-backed government of right-wing President Abelardo de la Espriella. Thousands of people marched, and initially peaceful demonstrations turned violent at night when riot police broke them up with stun grenades, tear gas and a water cannon.

FLIP said on X that it was alarming that law enforcement tasked with ensuring security had become a source of risk for journalists.

The government has had a strained relationship with the press since De la Espriella took office in August. Public information has been centralized in the president's office, and government ministers are not permitted to give media interviews.