Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado confirmed Thursday that authorities have identified three students as the primary instigators behind the assault on Science Minister Ximena Lincolao. The incident occurred Wednesday while Lincolao was visiting the Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh) in the Los Ríos region.
Speaking to Radio Duna, Alvarado condemned the attack, noting that the minister was effectively held captive for over two hours. According to the Minister, protesters blocked all access points to the facility, preventing Lincolao from leaving before physically assaulting her upon her eventual exit.
“Today, during the morning, I was informed that the three leaders who had the greatest participation have been identified,” Alvarado said. “We know who they are. Obviously, we have to wait for their subsequent arrest.”
Alvarado criticized the university’s administration for its failure to provide adequate security for a high-ranking government official. He argued that the institution ignored clear warning signs of potential unrest ahead of the event.
“When someone invites a person to their home, they have to provide the guarantees and conditions for those people to feel comfortable,” Alvarado stated. “We see that a situation that could be foreseeable due to the previous environment was not met with any safeguards or measures.”
Dual investigations underway
Following the incident, the government filed a formal legal complaint on Wednesday night, triggering an immediate investigation. The university has also launched its own internal inquiry into the conduct of the students involved.
UACh Rector Egon Montecinos confirmed the dual track of the investigation during an interview with local media. He noted that the public prosecutor's office, the government’s Ministry of Security, and the university itself are all scrutinizing the events.
“There is the investigation being carried out by the Prosecutor's Office, the complaint that the government filed through the Ministry of Security, and another that we initiated today,” Montecinos said. He added that the university intends to impose disciplinary sanctions once the internal process concludes.
Lincolao had been invited to the university to participate in the inauguration of the 2026 academic year. Instead of a formal ceremony, she faced continuous intimidation throughout her time on campus. The Ministry of the Interior has pledged to pursue legal action against those identified in the attack.
