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(CNN Spanish) - At least three people died in the riots that occurred in Colombia on Thursday night after the national strike in protest against the government of President Ivan Duque.
Defense Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo said in a press conference on Friday that two people died during a looting at a supermarket in the municipality of Buenaventura and another person died in the municipality of Candelaria, both municipalities in the department of Valle de Cauca
Holmes Trujillo said that the three deaths in that department are already under investigation by the Attorney General's Office.
Clashes between protesters and police during the day of protests in Bogotá. (Photo by JUAN BARRETO / AFP via Getty Images)
"Criminals unleashed a wave of violence affecting public goods, private property and mass transit system," said the minister and reported that the authorities work to identify those responsible and if they are part of any criminal organization.
The minister also acknowledged that it is possible that "in specific cases" there has been abuse of force by police officers or army officers. The General Inspection of the police opened 11 preliminary inquiries on complaints of possible irregularities in the conduct of law enforcement, Holmes Trujillo said.
During the protest day, 98 people were arrested, in addition to eight minors. In addition, 151 members of the public force, 148 soldiers and 122 civilians were injured.
The Ministry of Defense estimates that some 253,000 Colombians were part of Thursday's protests in which different sectors of civil society, students and unions participated.
After the massive demonstration, President Ivan Duque said that "Colombians spoke and we are listening." The president assured that his Government will deepen the dialogue with all sectors of society.
For his part, Holmes Trujillo called for a peaceful demonstration and said that this Friday operations continue in several municipalities of Colombia in order to maintain order in the country.
Protests in Colombia