Clashes erupted between demonstrators and police as crowds gathered in Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, to demand justice for the victims. Protesters denounced the brutal murders, which were broadcast live on a private Instagram account allegedly linked to a drug gang. According to officials, 45 people viewed the livestream.

The bodies of cousins Morena Verdi and Brenda del Castillo, both 20, and 15-year-old Lara Gutierrez were found on Wednesday, buried in the yard of a house in a southern suburb of Buenos Aires, five days after the young women went missing.

Investigators said the victims, believing they were on their way to a party, were lured into a van on September 19. Authorities believe the attack was part of a gang’s plan to “punish” them for breaking its code and to serve as a warning to others. A video of the killings was uncovered after a suspect, questioned about the disappearance, revealed its existence, said Buenos Aires provincial security minister Javier Alonso.

In the footage, a gang leader is heard declaring: “This is what happens to those who steal drugs from me.” Argentinian media reported that the victims were tortured—having their fingers cut off, nails pulled out, and suffering severe beatings before being suffocated. While most protesters marched peacefully on Saturday, some confronted police, who responded with batons and shields, according to videos and images published by the news outlet La Izquierda Diario. Family members of the victims led the march toward Argentina’s parliament, holding a banner emblazoned with the names “Lara, Brenda, Morena” alongside placards with their photos. (Aljazeera)