The shooting of Paul Flores in Lima on Sunday morning comes amid a surge in violence.
Peru’s President Dina Boluarte has declared a state of emergency in the capital Lima, shortly after a well-known singer was shot dead on a bus.
The emergency decree, which was announced on Monday and which will last for 30 days, comes amid a surge in extortion attacks and killings.
Under the measure, soldiers will be deployed to help police combat crime, and some rights, including the freedom of assembly, will be restricted. People can also be detained without a judicial order.
Public outrage grew over the weekend following the killing of Paul Flores, the 39-year-old lead singer of the cumbia band Armonia 10.
He was killed early on Sunday morning when assailants attacked the bus he and his bandmates were travelling on after a concert.
It is understood that the band had been threatened by criminals who wanted to extort money from them.
Peru’s culture ministry praised Flores, saying that “with his talent and charisma, he won the hearts of thousands of Peruvians”.
Flores’ death was not the only violent attack in Lima over the weekend. An explosion at a restaurant on Saturday left at least 11 people injured.
Later this week, politicians are expected to discuss a potential vote of no confidence against Interior Minister Juan José Santiváñez. Opposition figures claim he does not have an adequate plan to tackle the growing violence.
Boluarte has said she is “seriously considering” whether to reintroduce the death penalty.
In recent months, parts of the capital have had states of emergency in force. However, this is the first time since 2022 that all of Lima has been placed under one.
In total, 459 people were killed from 1 January to 16 March, according to the police, who recorded 1,909 reports of extortion in January alone.
