US citizen arrested in Bogotá on suspicion of child sexual abuse
A US citizen was arrested in Bogotá after being filmed by neighbours while holding a minor near the balcony of an apartment in a residential neighbourhood of the Colombian capital.
US citizen arrested in Bogotá on suspicion of child sexual abuse
A man of US nationality was taken into police custody on Sunday in Bogotá, accused of sexual assault against a minor. The arrest came after videos recorded by residents of the building were shared on social media, showing the foreigner with a child near the railings of a balcony in an upscale residential complex.
In the videos shared online, a woman who is filming the scene shouts: "He is abusing the child! Let him go!" Several other people join in shouting at the individual. The mayor of the city, Carlos Fernando Galán, confirmed via his X account that police had proceeded with the arrest.
During a search of the building occupied by the suspect, authorities found three minors. These were taken to a medical centre for evaluation, according to information provided by Galán himself. The Colombian Institute for Family Welfare, responsible for the protection of minors, took custody of the three children.
Dozens of people gathered at the doors of the building demanding the capture of the foreigner. A spokesperson for the immigration authority told AFP that the American had arrived in Bogotá on a flight on 6 June. He was remanded in custody whilst the investigation continues, although local authorities have not yet clarified the facts or confirmed whether the allegations made by witnesses are founded.
President Gustavo Petro reacted on social media platform X with a forceful message: "Never again". He raised the need to establish "health visas" to prevent "paedophiles, very numerous in the United States, from coming with their dollars to corrupt the spirits of mothers and fathers". He added that there should be "an end" to these cases.
Colombia, where prostitution is legal, is a frequent destination for sex tourism. In recent years, authorities have intensified efforts against networks of sexual exploitation and abuse of minors committed by foreigners. During the first half of 2026, around a hundred foreign citizens were turned away at the border when attempting to enter for sex tourism purposes, mainly in Medellín, in the north-west of the country. Cases of sexual exploitation of minors involving foreigners have become increasingly frequent in that metropolis of 2.6 million inhabitants.
Source: L'essentiel
Source: Google News LU FR