Colombia protesters 'use kids as human shields' during violent clashes with cops

Images show the moment demonstrators in Colombia took children onto the front lines of clashes with riot police in Bogota

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Protesters have been seen using children as “human shields” during clashes with police in Colombia.

In shocking scenes the protesters scooped up youngsters and carried them toward police lines during violent clashes with cops in the Colombian capital Bogota.

Protesters were spotted pulling young children towards the front line as riot police moved in during the protest. One small child can be seen clinging to the back of an adult as objects are thrown amid the confrontation.

Other children were seen being pushed or led forward as protesters confronted officers from Colombia’s public order unit. Several youngsters ran in fear as they were released from the front lines of the disorder.

The clashes broke out as protesters from Colombia’s indigenous Emberá group blocked access to the Interior Ministry and allegedly held more than 1,200 public officials inside for hours.

Interior Minister Armando Benedetti described the situation as extremely serious and said the blocking of ministry workers was “kidnapping”.

Riot cops were eventually dispatched to clear the demonstrators and allow workers to leave the building. Tear gas was used, officers said, in order to open evacuation routes as demonstrators threw objects at riot cops. The presence of children reportedly limited the response of police, who had to use special procedures to avoid injuring minors.

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro condemned the scenes after videos of the protests emerged. He said: “I do not accept this. Boys and girls come first in society.”

An ambulance was called to treat one adult casualty, Bogota officials said. The protest was linked to complaints by Indigenous communities over alleged failures by the national government on return, relocation, food aid and support for their communities.

Authorities said one Emberá child was affected during the intervention and received medical attention.

Protest groups have been in Bogota for several weeks demanding answers on issues involving children, adolescents, humanitarian aid and guarantees for returning to their territories.

Gustavo Quintero, Bogota’s government secretary, said the operation had been carried out with extra caution because vulnerable people were present. He said minors appeared to have been used as “protective shields”, affecting how the authorities could respond. The Colombian Family Welfare Institute (Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar; ICBF) said it had filed a complaint over the alleged use of children during the protest.

ICBF director Astrid Caceres said there was “no excuse” for what she had seen in the footage. She said the agency had offered shelter, food and beds for the children, while allowing adults to continue their protest, but said the offer was rejected. The Attorney General’s Office and the ICBF were involved in the operation to protect the rights of the children present.