The attack against Cristina Kirchner revealed a series of errors and serious flaws in the custody of the vice president who is in charge of the Federal Police, the force commanded by Aníbal Fernández.
Without reaction, those in charge of protecting and caring for the vice president not only could not prevent the accused, Fernando Sabag Montiel, from putting the weapon centimeters from her face, but later they did not isolate her either and walked with her almost without protecting her. even though the risk was not over.
The first error was that the operation, according to security experts, did not have the protection rings required to guard a high-ranking official. The devices to take care of heads of state have a series of protocols and perimeters to prevent an aggressor from approaching. The rings filter possible risks. But none of that worked Thursday night in front of the Recoleta apartment where Kirchner lives.
The second error was that the exterior cordon of the Federal Police failed with personnel dressed in civilian clothes and in uniform, who had to detect possible threats. In this line, the guards of the first line, who are presumably the most qualified, also erred: they were immobilized before the attack. According to the video images of the attack, the officers were even looking at Cristina Kirchner and not at the crowd, which is the place from which an attack could appear.
The third error, and perhaps the most serious, occurred after the man drew his gun and tried to shoot. Despite the fact that all the custody manuals state that an exit corridor must be 'encapsulated' and set up so that the possible victim can leave, the officers were left without reaction. None of them threw themselves on the vice president -as the protocols indicate- to protect her from a possible bullet impact. They also did not clear the area.
They even avoided putting her inside the custody car that was right behind Cristina Kirchner. It was a white Toyota Corolla where she could take refuge and leave with greater speed given the possibility that there were more aggressors.
The moments that followed are even more alarming and speak of the inexperience of official surveillance.
This is the fourth error of the custodians. The vice president, after the attack, continues to walk among the people at a slow pace and the officers barely cover her with her hands. They don't even firmly clear the militants who come to touch Kirchner. The vice president has her book in her hands, Sincerely, and she walks about 50 meters almost without protection until she enters her home.
As Clarín published, Cristina Kirchner already had about 100 guardians available to her and her family. Despite this number of troops, the operation was plagued with irregularities. After the episode, the Minister of Security, Aníbal Fernández, was identified as the main person in charge and criticism began to grow for his actions.
In parallel, Kirchner's chief of custody is Commissioner Diego Carbone, who has been with her since she was president. He is her trusted man. Today he is retired from the Federal Police and is a Kickboxing fighter. His role on Thursday night was very blurred.
