Twenty people injured in shooting at Coquimbo hospital

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COQUIMBO.- Twenty people were injured this morning in a shooting that took place at San Pablo Hospital in Coquimbo.

According to police, the incident began at approximately 9:00 AM when prison officials were transferring an inmate to the Traumatology Unit of the medical facility to have a cast on his arm changed.

The vehicle carrying the inmate stopped at the hospital’s main entrance where three prison guards got out to escort the man.

After entering the hospital, a group of armed assailants stormed the clinic in an attempt to free the prisoner, resulting in a shoot- out with the prison guards.

The incident left a total of twenty people injured. One of the victims was severely wounded and taken to a medical facility in La Serena.

Unable to free the inmate, the suspects fled the hospital after the shooting and are being actively pursued by law enforcement.