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Animal may have caused Peru hostage blast
Siege drags on for 9th day
December 26, 1996
Web posted at: 12:50 p.m. EST (1750 GMT)LIMA, Peru (CNN) -- An animal may have caused an explosion early Thursday at the booby-trapped Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima, Red Cross officials said. Peruvian rebels have been holding 104 government officials and businessmen captive for nine days at the residence.
The Red Cross said it had not received any reports of injuries to hostages in the 1:43 a.m. (0643 GMT) blast. There was no further explanation of what kind of animal might have triggered the blast or whether the explosion occurred inside the building or on the grounds, which are surrounded by a 10-foot (3-meter) wall.
Eyewitness accounts of the explosion:
(114K/10 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)
Local newspapers have speculated the blast might have been caused by a cat treading on one of the mines the rebels reportedly have planted near the entrances to the residence.
Released hostages said the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement rebels told them the roof of the home and the area immediately around it is mined, and that the rebels carry backpacks with explosives rigged to detonate if they pull cords.
They are demanding that the Peruvian government release more than 300 jailed colleagues.
Green-tinted night-vision video taken immediately after Thursday morning's explosion showed no smoke, but birds were seen flying away from the ambassador's residence. The force of the blast also triggered lights and warning sirens from car alarms in the neighborhood.
Christmas Day hostage release
On Christmas Day, the hostage-takers freed an ailing Japanese diplomat, one of more than 400 captives to be released since the drama began on December 17.
His head slumped to one side, Kenji Hirata, 34, a first secretary at the Japanese embassy in Lima, was pushed out of the residence by Red Cross workers in a wheelchair.
Hirata was also accompanied by Roman Catholic bishop Juan Luis Cipriani, who spent more than seven hours inside the ambassador's home.
Correspondent Susan Candiotti and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Another hostage, apparently ill, released in Peru - December 25, 1996
- Hostage freed in Peru after Uruguay makes concession - December 24, 1996
- Peru hostage crisis at impasse on Christmas Eve - December 24, 1996
- Stalemate develops in Peru hostage crisis - December 23, 1996
- Peru rebels dig in with remaining 140 hostages - December 23, 1996
- Rebels free more hostages in 'Christmas gesture' - December 23, 1996
- Peru hostage crisis: Deep differences between government and rebels - December 23, 1996
Related sites:
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- Peru Info Internet
- Overview of Latin American Terrorism - Peru
- Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA)
- MRTA Solidarity Page
- Latinworld.com - Peru
- International Committee of the Red Cross
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
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