Authorities in the U.S. state of Texas have charged the driver of an SUV who rammed into a crowd of migrants near a shelter in the border city of Brownsville last week, killing eight people and wounding 10 others.
Most of the victims were Venezuelan asylum seekers who had spent the night at the shelter and were waiting to board a bus.
Brownsville Police Chief Felix Sauceda told reporters: “Investigation also revealed that the driver of the vehicle, later identified as George Alvarez, November 9th, 1988, had attempted to flee the scene after impact but was held down by several individuals on scene. … He has been formally charged and arraigned with eight counts of manslaughter, 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.”
Police say Alvarez has a long history of violent crimes, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. They’re investigating eyewitness accounts that he shouted anti-immigrant insults at his victims during Sunday’s assault.
Venezuela’s government has called for a full investigation to determine if the attack was motivated by hate.
The Peruvian Ministry of Health develops the informative campaign “Hazle el pare al dengue”, through which recommendations and preventive measures for the population are provided.
