Man detained in Tupiza for broadcasting self-harm and inciting minors
A 30-year-old man was arrested in Tupiza, Potosí, following an FBI alert channelled through Interpol. Investigators are examining whether he incited minors to self-harm through digital platforms.
FBI alert leads to arrest of man in Potosí broadcasting live self-harm
An international alert from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) resulted in the arrest of a 30-year-old man in Tupiza, Potosí department. The suspect was broadcasting live acts of self-harm through digital platforms with international reach, according to El Deber.
The alert was channelled through Interpol after international monitoring systems detected the broadcasts. The operation concluded on the same Monday that local authorities received the information.
"They informed me in the morning and in the afternoon I was searching for him throughout Tupiza until I found him," said Colonel Villazón, departmental commander of the Potosí Police.
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Bedroom with blood stains and a heart drawn on the wall
When investigators searched the detainee's room, they found direct evidence of the self-harm acts that the man was broadcasting in his transmissions. Colonel Villazón described the scene in detail.
"When we found the room, we saw blood stains, a large pool, and he had also drawn a heart with the initials of a girl, with his own blood, on the wall," explained the police authority.
The commander clarified that the blood belonged to the suspect himself, who had wounds on his chest. These elements form part of the file that seeks to establish the circumstances of the broadcasts and determine whether other people were involved.
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Investigation points to possible victims outside Bolivia
One of the central axes of the investigation is to determine whether the broadcasts induced other people—including minors—to reproduce the same behaviour. Villazón explained that the content was accessible from any country.
"It was not only for Bolivia, it was for the whole world, for all countries, for anyone who accessed his channel," said the police chief.
Specialised personnel are working on analysing the digital material to identify possible victims, followers, and users who interacted with the suspect during the broadcasts. "We are beginning the investigation to see if there are any other people who through imitation might do this. We are working with the team so it can investigate further, but that takes time," Villazón indicated.
For now, the Police have not specified how many people may have been affected nor have they confirmed the existence of identified victims in Bolivian territory.
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Public Prosecutor's Office must evaluate criminal classification
The suspect was detained for acts that could be related to public incitement to commit crime and behaviour linked to inducement to suicide. The final criminal classification is the responsibility of the Public Prosecutor's Office.
The departmental commander believed, however, that the man requires specialised care rather than purely punitive measures. "Rather than wanting to detain him, he needs psychological and psychiatric assistance," Villazón stated.
It will be the Public Prosecutor's Office that determines whether there are sufficient grounds to file charges, request precautionary measures, and evaluate the appropriateness of a psychiatric assessment. "We present the facts, but they will evaluate whether it is appropriate to charge him with the commission of these crimes or refer him for psychological and psychiatric evaluation," the colonel said.
According to police information, the suspect lives with his father and works in a nightclub in Tupiza, though it has not yet been specified what functions he performs at that establishment.
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Interpol maintains international coordination
The Potosí Police have already sent a report on the operation to the national Interpol bodies to continue information exchange with international authorities. "We, through Interpol Potosí, have already informed the national Interpol so they can report on this operation," Villazón stated.
Coordination will be maintained permanently to determine whether there are other people affected and to prevent similar behaviour from being reproduced. "We continue, coordination is permanent to see if there are other victims and also other people who could imitate this behaviour," the commander emphasised.
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Call to parents regarding anonymity on social networks
Villazón concluded his statement with a call to parents to supervise the digital content their children access, especially on platforms that allow live broadcasting and interaction with strangers.
"The most important thing is always supervision and parental control, because this type of violent actions use platforms that give them anonymity and access to many people," the authority stated.
Investigations continue to establish the real scope of the broadcasts and identify all users who interacted with the suspect during the live broadcasts.
Source: El Deber