Protesters try to seize parliament building in Colombia

Protesters in the Colombian capital, Bogota, have tried to break into the local Capitol building, where lawmakers gather to discuss the situation around the rallies., Report informs.

"Several minutes ago, we had to evacuate the Congress building to ensure safety as some protesters tried to rush inside. Let us not allow violence to drown out the protest!" lawmaker Mauricio Toro wrote on his Twitter page.

According to Bogota Mayor Claudia Lopez, some protesters tore down the Capitol fence, but a special police force managed to oust them. The mayor also called on members of Congress to engage in dialogue with young people about such violence.

Notably, At least 31 people have died, 1,220 more have been injured, and 87 have gone missing within a week of protests in Colombia.

Since last week, the rallies in Colombia against an increase in gas prices and utility bills as part of state-proposed tax reform have been underway. Even though President Ivan Duque called the reform off on Sunday, protesters have continued to protest, calling for a nationwide strike on May 5.