Boricua Popular Army
The Boricua Popular/People's Army - or Ejército Popular Boricua in Spanish - is a clandestine organization based on the island of Puerto Rico, with cells in the United States. They campaign for, and support, the independence of Puerto Rico from the United States. In 2001, FBI Director Louis J. Freeh linked Los Macheteros to acts of terrorism.
Also known as Los Macheteros ("the Machete Wielders") and the "Puerto Rican Popular Army," their active membership was calculated in 2006 by Prof. Michael González Cruz, in his book Nacionalismo Revolucionario Puertorriqueño, to be composed of approximately 5,700 members with an additional unknown number of supporters, sympathizers, collaborators and informants throughout the U.S. and other countries. A report by The Economist places the number of active members at 1,100, excluding supporters.
The group has claimed responsibility for numerous bombings, attacks against the United States armed forces, and armed robberies since 1978, and was led primarily by former FBI Most Wanted Fugitive Filiberto Ojeda Ríos until his death in 2005.
Read more about Boricua Popular Army: History, Notable Incidents, Terrorism Vs. National Liberation, Focus On Public Education, Documentary, Notable Group Members
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