An armed group has taken control of a military base in central Bolivia and is holding more than 200 employees as hostages, NOVA reported.
Bolivian authorities said the group kidnapped military personnel and seized weapons and ammunition from the base, located near the central Bolivian city of Cochabamba. Bolivian President Luis Arce said the armed group was linked to former President Evo Morales, but did not provide evidence for his claim, CNN reported. The country's army called on the group to leave the military base “immediately and peacefully”.
The incident is the latest escalation of tensions between Morales and Arce before the 2025 elections. In recent weeks, Morales' supporters have blocked major highways across the country, including in Cochabamba, in response to government accusations of human trafficking. The blockades, which Bolivian police said involved “violent armed groups”, led to food and fuel shortages in some cities.
Minister Eduardo Del Castillo said Morales and his men opened fire on police as they tried to avoid a checkpoint set up to stop drug trafficking.
The former president denied the charge and accused the government of trying to organize his assassination by shooting at his car.