VALDIVIA — Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado announced Thursday that investigators have identified three student leaders responsible for the physical aggression and subsequent detention of Science Minister Ximena Lincolao at the Universidad Austral. The incident occurred during her visit to the campus for the 2026 academic year inauguration.
Alvarado confirmed the identification of the suspects during an interview with Radio Duna. He stated that officials expect arrests to follow shortly, noting that the suspects are known student organizers who had issued public calls for the protest prior to the minister’s arrival.
“They are students, student leaders. There were records of previous calls for this demonstration,” Alvarado said. The ministry filed a formal criminal complaint on Wednesday evening to facilitate the ongoing investigation into the blockade and physical assault.
Failure of university security
The minister leveled sharp criticism at the Universidad Austral for its handling of the event. He argued that the institution failed to provide the necessary security protocols for a visiting government official.
“When someone invites a person to their house, obviously they have to provide the guarantees and conditions so that those people feel comfortable,” Alvarado stated. He accused the university administration of failing to implement any protective measures, despite the situation being a foreseeable security risk.
Lincolao was reportedly held against her will for over two hours as protesters blocked the building’s exits. After finally navigating the crowd, she was physically assaulted upon leaving the facility.
Alvarado described the ordeal as a breach of basic safety standards, noting that the minister was subjected to constant intimidation throughout her visit. The government has labeled the behavior as “totally and absolutely reprehensible and unacceptable” in line with statements released from the La Moneda presidential palace.
