Bolivia: Explosion attack at Episcopal Conference headquarters front door

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The General Secretariat of the Bolivian Episcopal Conference (CEB) has communicated the explosion of an artifact that occurred this Wednesday afternoon, November 24, at the entrance of the property of the headquarters of the Episcopal Conference without causing consequences to people but material damage.

Father Ben Hur Soto, Secretary for Pastoral Ministry of the CEB, issued a statement entitled “Peace be with you” (John 20:19).

Read also: Check out our coverage on Bolivia

“Although the material damage to the structure is repairable,” the statement sent to Agenzia Fides said, “we urge the perpetrators to consider that their action could have harmed innocent people. As the Catholic Church, we call once again for the respect of life and the fraternal encounter between brothers and sisters.”

The CEB has also released images from a security camera. A person is seen leaving a device at the front door and then disappears, and the detonation occurs 20 seconds later. The person setting off the explosive is wearing a suit similar to those used for pandemic biosecurity, has his head covered by a hood, and wears synthetic gloves.

Although there are no indications or claims as to the origin of the attack, many believe it is the result of the controversy surrounding the Bolivian Church’s position on the recent case of an 11-year-old girl who became pregnant due to rape.

The bishops urged the authorities to respect and protect the right to life of the girl victim of violence, as well as the unborn child, because “both lives must be protected”.

They also reminded that “no one can be forced to have an abortion, not even in the face of serious sexual violence because abortion is a crime in Bolivia.” On October 27, a group of demonstrators claiming to defend girl victims of violence and challenging the Church’s position rallied in front of the CEB headquarters, defacing the walls.