Caught on Camera: US Citizen Arrested in Bogotá Over Alleged Child Sexual Abuse Case

BOGOTÁ, June 15: A US citizen has been arrested in northern Bogotá after being caught during an alleged sexual abuse incident involving a minor in the upscale Chicó Navarra neighbourhood of the Usaquén district, Colombian authorities said.

Police said the arrest was made after residents reported the incident, which reportedly occurred inside an apartment rented through Airbnb. Videos circulating on social media showed neighbours alerting authorities and shouting from outside the building as the suspect was taken into custody.

The Child and Adolescent Police responded to the scene and detained the foreign national. He was later handed over to the Prosecutor’s Office, where he is expected to face charges of aggravated sexual assault of a minor under 14 years of age.

The Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF) confirmed that the minor victim is now under its protection. The agency also said two other children, aged 4, 7 and 15, were found in the apartment and taken to a medical centre for evaluation.

“The children are accompanied by a Family Advocacy team that is verifying their rights and ensuring their protection,” the ICBF said in a statement.

Colombian Migration authorities confirmed that the man entered the country on June 6 through Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport as a tourist.

Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán condemned the incident, saying authorities would determine the full facts and any legal responsibility. “In Bogotá, there can be no place for mistreatment or abuse of children,” he said.

Justice Minister Jorge Iván Cuervo also called for strict action, saying “the full force of the law” must be applied if the allegations are confirmed.

The case comes amid growing concern in Colombia over child sexual exploitation involving foreign nationals, with immigration authorities reporting an increase in entry denials linked to suspected sex tourism and several arrests in major cities in recent years.