Uproar in Colombia over police custody death

A night of uproar in Colombia's capital over the death of a man in police custody has left seven people dead, dozens injured and buildings vandalized.

The Ministry of Defense said Thursday the wave of violence in Bogota in response to a video showing police holding down a man being tasered left 56 police stations damaged and eight city buses burned.

The mayor's office reported that 248 civilians were injured, and the interim General Director of the Colombian National Police, Gustavo Moreno, said 55 civilians had been taken to hospitals.

Moreno added that 93 police officers were wounded during the clashes.

The interior ministry called for justice and peace.

The outrage stems from the death of Javier Ordóñez, whose violent encounter with police was captured by witnesses and went viral on social media. In the video, two officers pin Ordóñez to a sidewalk while he is tasered, pleading the officers to stop.

Ordóñez's family told local media he is a lawyer by training who has been working as a taxi driver.

Authorities vowed to conduct a thorough investigation into his death while also calling on citizens to cease acts of violence and vandalism.

Over 1,500 additional officers and 300 soldiers are being deployed throughout Bogota.

(Image Credit Pixabay)