Peru police officer 'burned alive' in demonstrations following ouster of Castillo as president

A police officer in Peru was attacked and burned to death by protestors in the demonstrations in that country sparked by the recent ouster of President Pedro Castillo, according to Peruvian authorities.

At least 47 people have so far died in the protests, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. 

The office who was killed Monday night was on patrol in the Peruvian region of Puno. He has been identified as 29-year-old José Luis Soncco Quispe.

"He was burned alive in his patrol car," Prime Minister Alberto Otárola said.

The officer was reportedly on patrol with a fellow officer in Juliaca, a city near the border with Bolivia and Lake Titicaca.

They were attacked by a mob of about 350 that later set fire to their vehicle, according to police reports.

The second officer was taken to a hospital in Lima with multiple head injuries.

The unrest began in early December, following Castillo’s removal and arrest following his attempt to dissolve Congress and block his own impeachment, the wire service also reports.