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Riots and arrests on Chile's coup anniversary
As President Sebastián Piñera spoke of national unity and moving past quarrels from recent history on the anniversary of the 11 September 1973 military coup that ousted democratically elected President Salvador Allende, protests and demonstrations occurred throughout Chile.
According to officials, the demonstrations resulted in 221 arrests. Four civilians and nine policemen were injured in Santiago and other parts of the country.
It was the first time since the return of democracy in Chile that the anniversary was commemorated under an elected Conservative government.
In weeks leading up to the coup's anniversary, Piñera announced that police forces would be increased dramatically on September 11 in anticipation of violence, as had occurred in years past.
In the Santiago Metropolitan Region, 85 people were arrested, with many of the arrests occurring late at night. Three police were injured after being shot with pellet guns–two were shot in the eye and one was shot in the face.
In lower income areas of Santiago such as the Peñalolen borough, stones were thrown at passing cars. Special police forces had to intervene in the Villa Francia neighbourhood to stop a gas station from being looted. Power outages affected 104,000 households–more than as many as last year–after lines were cut during demonstrations.