Authorities in Colombia reject violence against police officers in the context of Wednesday’s protests in Bogotá

Stock image. (Credit: JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty Images) (CNN Spanish) –– Authorities in Colombia rejected the violence and attacks suffered by the security forces, in the context of the protests led by members of the Embera indigenous community in Bogotá, which they demanded a relocation, among other demands. A video of only three seconds that went viral on social networks shows a group of strangers beating a police officer. The agent is lying on the floor face down and at least two men beat him with sticks. A cyclist is also seen trying to stop the aggression. CNN is consulting with Bogotá authorities about the policeman’s health status. CNN does not know what happened before and after the images were captured. The Mayor’s Office offers a reward for information that leads to the identification of those responsible for acts of violence against public servants. President Gustavo Petro referred to the incident: “Every member of the Police, every public official, just like every person, is a subject of human rights. Anyone who attacks a police officer in a defenseless state is also a human rights violator,” he wrote. the president on Twitter. In the early hours of Thursday, after meeting with leaders of the Embera community, Petro stated on social networks that these people are victims of forced displacement. According to the president, they move to Bogotá “every time they are beaten” and that, since the majority do not speak Spanish, they suffer discrimination. For this reason, he pointed out that officials “do not have the education to understand them.” The day of protest left 27 injured, including 14 police officers and five civilians with injuries, although none seriously, according to the Secretary of the Government of Bogotá, Felipe Jiménez. For its part, the Ministry of Defense reported that Petro, the director general of the National Police and the head of that portfolio, Iván Velásquez, visited the wounded uniformed officers in a hospital to find out about their state of health. The Ministry stated on Twitter that those responsible will be prosecuted.