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Colombian teens murdered after Facebook threats posted

Three Colombian teens were murdered in that country after death threats against them and 66 others were posted on Facebook, according to news reports from Colombia.
/ Source: msnbc.com news services

Three Colombian teens were murdered in that country after death threats against them and 66 others were posted on Facebook, according to news reports from Colombia.

The victims, ages 15, 16 and 17, were killed by "hitmen" on a road outside the town of Puerto Asis, Putumayo in southern Colombia, according to Colombia Reports, an English-language news organization based in Medellín.

Volmar Perez, Colombia's ombudsman, who deals with civil and human rights, told the news agency that the murders "coincide with ... the publication of a (Facebook) list with the names and aliases of 69 teenagers where (it) is said that they have three days to leave Puerto Asis and if not, be killed."

The ombudsman condemned "the threats, intimidation and violent deaths of teenagers" on Facebook, Colombia Reports said, and is seeking an investigation. "It is unclear whether the murders are carried out by leftist guerrilla group FARC or drug cartel 'Los Rastrojos,' both highly active in the southern department," the news agency said.

Perez said that local authorities "initially thought the list was a joke and only called for a security council meeting when a second and similar list appeared" on Facebook.