Ayacucho massacre

The Ayacucho massacre took place on 15 December 2022 in Ayacucho, when Peruvian Army soldiers fired on protestors after an attempt by protestors to storm the local airport. The incident happened in the context of the 2022–2023 Peruvian protests, occurring one day after President Dina Boluarte, with the support of right-wing parties in Congress, granted the Peruvian Armed Forces expanded powers and the ability to respond to demonstrations.

On that day, demonstrations took place in Ayacucho and the situation intensified when the military deployed helicopters to fire at protesters, who later tried to take over the city's airport, which was defended by the Peruvian Army and the National Police of Peru. Troops responded by firing live ammunition at protesters, resulting in 10 dead and 61 injured. Among the injured, 90% had gunshot wounds, while those killed were shot in the head or torso. Nine of the ten killed had wounds consistent with the ammunition used in the IMI Galil service rifle used by the army.

The event was not prominently covered by Western or Peruvian media. Academics and human rights organizations condemned the excessive use of force by Peruvian authorities, while the Minister of Culture and Minister of Education resigned from the newly formed government of Dina Boluarte in response. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights would describe the killings as a massacre. The following day, the repression by the police and military led to new acts of vandalism, such as looting and burning of various unprotected public buildings. The following month, the Juliaca massacre was perpetrated by the Peruvian National Police.