Peru's president declares state of emergency in capital as it tries to stem surging violence

Peru's new president declared a state of emergency in the capital Tuesday in the government's latest attempt to stem a surge in violence that has stirred protests and contributed to the recent downfall of his predecessor.

Peru has seen an increase of killings, violent extortion and attacks on public places in recent years. Between January and September, police reported 1,690 homicides, compared to 1,502 during the same period of 2024.