Editors’ note: This report was updated Aug. 19 at 1:11pm ET to include statements and details from Nicaragua’s National Police.
The Diocese of Matagalpa announced early Friday morning that the National Police of Nicaragua had raided the diocesan chancery, taking Bishop Rolando Álvarez and his companions into custody.
According to a police statement released Friday afternoon, the bishop was kept in custody in a Managua residence belonging to his family, while others are being processed at a detention center known as El Chipote. El Chipote is notorious among human rights advocates for inhumane treatment of suspected criminals.
According to witnesses, police and paramilitary officers entered the Matagalpa chancery building at around 3:00 am, taking the bishop and others in the house to an undisclosed location, in a caravan of eight police vehicles.
Álvarez,…
