Bank in Peru's capital experiences second blast within a week amid rise in criminal activities and extortion efforts

In a series of unsettling events, two powerful explosions have targeted branches of Compartamos Bank, a Mexican-owned institution with operations in Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru, within a week. The latest incident occurred on Sunday, causing material damage to the Lima branch and damaging two ATMs.

The previous explosion occurred early Friday morning at a different Compartamos bank branch, destroying an ATM and damaging part of a nearby bridge. Remarkably, there have been no reports of casualties in either explosion.

Compartamos Bank, a leading player in microfinance with over 1 million local clients, has confirmed it is cooperating with the Peruvian authorities in the investigation. The bank has chosen to remain silent on the matter, electing not to make further comments at this time.

The motives behind these attacks remain unclear. However, the Peruvian police have linked these incidents to an increase in extortion, with a 28% rise in extortion reports from January to July 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, amounting to 15,989 reports.

This wave of attacks extends beyond banks, with daily explosions reported in various locations such as homes, public buses, restaurants, daycare centres, and schools. The organization presumed to be responsible for these extortion waves in Peru has not been explicitly named in the provided search results.

The Public Prosecutor's Office in the northwestern La Libertad region was also targeted in an explosion in January. Cleanup crews were seen removing debris and covering the damaged Compartamos branch on Sunday, as banks are closed on Sundays in Peru.

As the investigation continues, both Compartamos Bank and the Peruvian authorities are working diligently to uncover the reasons behind these attacks and ensure the safety of the public.

Bank in Peru's capital experiences second blast within a week amid rise in criminal activities and extortion efforts