Drone footage shows thousands gathered to support Argentina's VP after gun attack

Record ID: 1687155

  • Title: Drone footage shows thousands gathered to support Argentina's VP after gun attack
  • Date: 2nd September 2022
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (SEPTEMBER 2, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DRONE SHOTS OF THOUSANDS OF ARGENTINES GATHERED WITH BANNERS TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR ARGENTINE VICE PRESIDENT CRISTINA FERNANDEZ AFTER AN APPARENT FAILED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
  • Embargoed: 16th September 2022 20:20
  • Keywords: Cristina Fernandez Cristina Kirchner Peron VP assassination attempt attack gun
  • Location: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
  • City: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,South America / Central America
  • Reuters ID: LVA001246202092022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Argentines took to the streets of Buenos Aires on Friday (September 2) in a show of solidarity against an apparently failed assassination attempt on powerful Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, which has shocked the South American country.
    An assailant pointed a loaded gun from close range at Fernandez de Kirchner outside her Buenos Aires home where crowds had gathered on Thursday (September 1) night, but it failed to discharge. Authorities have yet to ascertain a motive for the attack.
    Drone footage showed thousands of Argentines gathered on the streets with banners to show their support for Fernandez.
    Political leaders around the region, U.S. officials, and Argentine Pope Francis all condemned the attack, which happened amid acute political tensions as the country sinks deeper into an economic crisis driven by runaway debt and inflation.
    Fernandez de Kirchner, a divisive figure who is arguably Argentina's most powerful political operator, is facing potential corruption charges linked to an alleged scheme to divert public funds while president between 2007 and 2015. A prosecutor in recent weeks called for a 12-year prison sentence.
    She denies wrongdoing and her supporters have rallied in the streets and gathered daily outside her residence, criticizing the judiciary and conservative opposition for leading what they say is a witch hunt against her.
    President Alberto Fernandez's office has called for an end to a "rhetoric of hate," and the president said the attack was the worst since the country returned to democracy decades ago.
    The attack was streamed into households across the country via live TV images that showed the gun being pushed towards Fernandez de Kirchner's face before she crouched down and covered her face with her hands. Supporters outside her house then bundled a man away.
    Police arrested a suspect who they named as Fernando Andrés Sabag Montiel, a 35-year-old Brazilian.
    Local newspaper La Nacion, citing police sources, said that Montiel had been working as a driver and renting rooms in the Villa Zagala neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Police found 100 bullets when they raided the property, the newspaper said.
    (Production: Miguel Lo Bianco, Nina Lopez)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register