BRIEFS: Public safety

Murder rate on track to be higher this year

LA PRENSA

busy: Police are called to investigate a murder once every two days on average, according to government statistics.1099401

Panama City's murder rate is on track to be substantially higher this year than it was in 2007, which was one of the bloodiest in the country's history.

Between January and August, 128 people were murdered in Panama City, 107 of which were killed with a firearm.

In 2007, there were 94 murders in the city during the first eight months of the year.

According to the homicide department of the Dirección de Investigación Judicial, most of the murders appear to be related to thefts, gang activity or drug trafficking. Of the 128 victims, 13 were citizens of Colombia.

Panama City is averaging a murder every two days, according to the Ministerio de Gobierno y Justicia. There were 24 murder recorded in August, making it the deadliest month so far this year.

Most of the murders have taken place in the communities of Santa Ana, El Chorrillo and Curundú, as well as in the neighborhoods of 24 de Diciembre, Las Mañanitas and Tocumen.