Hundreds of Chile protesters suffer ‘severe eye trauma’ from rubber bullets fired by police

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I thought, they are going to kill me.” At least 285 people in Chile have suffered severe eye trauma, mostly from hardened rubber bullets and tear gas canisters fired by Chilean security forces at protesters during the month of unrest. After protesters upset over a subway fare hike burned Santiago metro stations, Piñera declared the country “at war against a dangerous enemy” and ordered a militarized police force to patrol the streets. open image in gallery Women dressed in black and wearing eye patches, representing protesters injured with pellets shot by riot police “A tiny ball this size that hits with such force that the eyeball just opens up like a flower,” Dr Carmen Torres said. “It’s a human rights catastrophe,” said Dr Enrique Morales, President of the Human Rights Department for the Medical College of Chile, who has been tracking eye trauma from the protests.