At least two people have been killed in clashes in Peru’s Apurimac region

(CNN Spanish) — At least two people have died and three have been hospitalized during demonstrations in the Apurímac department, the Peruvian Ministry of Health said on Twitter this Sunday.

At least one person died and one policeman was injured in clashes between protesters and police at Huancapamba airport in the region, particularly in the city of Antahuilas, the Peruvian National Police said in a statement earlier.

According to the organization, the altercation broke out when “residents of the area” attacked the facilities.

The police added that the officer was injured by “blunt objects” and limited himself to saying that “he is receiving the necessary care”.

Regarding the person who died, the Public Ministry said only that it was investigating the incident.

“No Peruvian’s life deserves to be sacrificed for political interests,” Peru’s President Tina Poluiarte said in a message of condolence. Posted on his Twitter account.

Hours earlier, officials said at least 50 people, including police officers and workers, were being held “hostages” at the Antahuilas airport in southern Peru. Saturday’s first airport, the Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation, SA, Corpac, indicated in a statement.

According to a Corpac report, the incidents “severely affected the landing strip and equipment essential to the provision of air navigation services.” “They set fire to the transmission room, the fuel room, surrounded the terminal with violent acts, where 50 members of the Peruvian National Police and collaborators are our company,” said Corbac, affiliated with Peru’s Ministry of Transport and Communications.

He called for police support and reinforcement to “protect the lives of people held hostage,” though he did not provide further information on their condition.

The report by the Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation did not explain the reason for the attacks against the Antahuilas airport in the Apurimac sector, adding that “the attack only calls for the peace and fairness of the population,” he says. – our terminal for no reason”.

Local media such as RPP reported that the incidents at the airport began when protesters tried to prevent police officers from Lima from traveling as reinforcements to the city of Antahuelas, where at least 20 people were injured this Saturday. , including Clash between four police officers, law enforcement and groups of protesters.

In its statement this Sunday, the National Police said it had sent reinforcements to the area “to guarantee public order and social peace”.

CNN is trying to get more details from the Peruvian National Police, the Public Ministry and Corpac.

Andahuaylas was one of the regions that sparked protests this week by supporting former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, who was ousted by Congress and then arrested. According to local media, other slogans of the protesters included a call for general elections, the closure of Congress and the creation of a Constituent Assembly.

This Sunday, the police in its statement “guarantees the right to peaceful protests, categorically rejects violence in any of its forms and urges people to remain calm.”