SANTIAGO, Chile, May 12 (UPI) -- The Chilean army has expelled two soldiers after determining that they trained members of a neo-Nazi group.
Chilean police are investigating group members for the April 17 killing of Tomas Vilches in the capital Santiago, whom the gang labeled a "punk."
Vilches' murder was preceded by the Dec. 17 assault by several neo-Nazis on 17 year-old Jonathan Espinoza Espinoza, who died several days later.
EFE reported Thursday that reserve Sgt. Juan Acevedo Moya of the Yungay Reinforced Regiment, and Private Cristian Bello Paz, a student at the Non-Commissioned Officers School, have been dismissed from the army after investigators determined that the pair had trained neo-Nazis in martial arts and weapons. A total of four soldiers are under investigation for Viches' murder.
The army issued a statement saying that it had turned over all the records linked to the investigation to the Attorney General's office.
Chilean Interior Minister Andres Zaldivar said Thursday that his government would vigorously prosecute neo-Nazi groups responsible for a recent rash of attacks on homosexuals and "punks."
