OIJ investigates bomb that damaged Teletica building

A device that exploded Saturday at 11:30 p.m. and damaged a window of the Teletica ​​building was a fire extinguisher tube that could be activated remotely and may have been homemade, according to Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ).

As evidenced in security videos, minutes before the explosion, three men crossed the street and placed a box on the ground. Moments later, they left the area and the explosion occurred. No one was injured by the bomb.

The explosive device that detonated Saturday was the second one targeting public spaces in recent weeks. On July 26, a Molotov cocktail was placed in the window of the office of Zoila Rosa Volio, a deputy in the Legislative Assembly. On that occasion, the security videos also showed three men in the vicinity just before the explosion.

The director of Telenoticias, Ignacio Santos, denounced Saturday’s acts of violence.

“Those who do this are cowardly and criminals; someone may have died,” said Santos, who acknowledged the event will force the broadcasting company to strengthen security.

Santos said Teletica has received other threats in recent months and that OIJ is investigating the situation.

“There are small groups that have created an environment of hate and intolerance,” he said. “I am convinced that 99.99% of the population repudiates these things.”

Wálter Espinoza, director of the OIJ, did not respond to questions by the time of publication.

Costa Rica’s President, Carlos Alvarado, condemned the “intimidating” acts against freedom of expression.

“I vehemently condemn what happened in the vicinity of Teletica. A few cannot intimidate this country from moving forward, and they cannot silence freedom of expression. At this time, authorities are working to find those responsible,” Alvarado said in a tweet.

This story was originally published by Semanario Universidad on July 28, 2019. It was translated and republished with permission by The Tico Times. Read the original report at Semanario Universidad here.