An American tourist in Bogotá, Colombia, was reportedly nearly lynched by an angry mob after he was falsely accused of sexually abusing a child, a claim later found to be a misunderstanding.
The incident occurred in northern Bogotá on Saturday, June 13, when a video shared online showed the man, a 36-year-old from Texas, holding a child on a balcony of an apartment building. The footage quickly went viral, prompting onlookers to accuse him of abuse and alert authorities.
Eyewitnesses, believing the child was in danger, gathered at the scene and attempted to confront the man. A crowd later formed outside the building, with some individuals trying to force their way into the apartment complex before police arrived.
The man was arrested on suspicion of child abuse and escorted through a hostile crowd by law enforcement officers. Three children found inside the apartment were taken for medical evaluation and later placed under the care of Colombia’s child protection agency.
However, later reports suggested that the situation had been misinterpreted. Authorities and updated investigations indicated that the man was actually attempting to help his adopted son, who was choking, by performing the Heimlich manoeuvre.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said preliminary findings showed that the American citizen did not sexually abuse any child.
“I must notify Colombian society because my commitment is to the truth, that the American citizen of Texan origin… apparently did not violate any of his adopted children,” Petro said, adding that the images were misleading and had triggered a false public reaction.
A report from the prosecutor’s office also stated that there was “no evidence of sexual abuse or physical violence” and no indication of criminal conduct, according to local media.
Authorities have warned about the dangers of misinformation and viral content that can escalate quickly into mob violence before facts are fully established.