Senior Bolivian Magistrate Dies After Gun Attack in Taxi

 

 A senior Bolivian judge, Victor Hugo Claure, has died after being shot by gunmen while travelling in a taxi in Santa Cruz.

According to police, the attack occurred when two assailants on a motorcycle opened fire on the vehicle, striking the magistrate multiple times. He was rushed for medical attention but died before reaching the hospital. 

Claure was described as the most senior judge on Bolivia’s agro-environmental court, making the incident particularly significant within the country’s judicial system. 

Authorities said his body had multiple gunshot wounds, and investigations are ongoing to determine the motive, with early indications suggesting a possible land dispute. 

The killing has drawn condemnation, including from the United Nations, which called for a “prompt and thorough investigation” and accountability for those responsible. 

In response to the attack, security has reportedly been tightened around other senior judicial officials, highlighting concerns about safety within Bolivia’s justice system.