More than 30 injured in nightclub bombing in northern Peru

Peru has experienced an uptick in organised crime, including extortion, a trend analysts link to government corruption.Published On 7 Mar 2026About 33 people have been injured in a nightclub bombing in the coastal town of Trujillo in northern Peru, with minors among those hurt in the explosion.Authorities say that the attack took place in the early morning hours on Saturday, with an explosion ripping through the club.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Peru appoints Jose Maria Balcazar as president, ninth leader in a decadelist 2 of 3Trump administration launches US military operation in Ecuadorlist 3 of 3Human rights court orders reparations for forced sterilisation case in Peruend of listThe circumstances of the blast are still being investigated, but the bombing took place in a region that has been hard hit by an uptick in organised crime, a source of growing concern in Peru.At least five of those injured are in serious condition, according to the executive director of the Trujillo Health Network, Gerardo Florian Gomez. Three of the injured were minors, including one victim who is 16 years old and two more who are 17 years old.Some victims have suffered shrapnel wounds and are undergoing amputation procedures and surgery.A similar incident occurred in the same city less than a month ago. Trujillo is located about 500 kilometres (310 miles) north of the capital of Lima, and it is one of the most populous cities in the country.Official figures show that a total of 136 explosions took place in Trujillo in 2025.Overall, 286 took place in the wider region of La Libertad, which has become an epicentre of illicit mining and extortion by organised crime.Analysts and rights groups say that organised crime, a serious issue in Peru and other countries in South America, has benefitted from laws passed by the Peruvian Congress that have weakened government transparency and judicial oversight in recent years.