US citizen arrested in Bogotá over alleged child sexual abuse

Police in the Usaquén district of Bogotá detained a U.S. citizen, identified as Grant Gail, after neighbors filmed him allegedly abusing a child on a balcony. The incident, captured on video that spread on social media, involved three minors aged 4, 7 and 15, who were rescued and taken to a hospital for medical and psychosocial care.

The Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF) immediately activated its child‑protection route, assigning a family‑defense team to ensure the victims’ rights. The suspect was placed in custody of the Fiscalía General and handed over to Migración Colombia for identity verification. The Procuraduría General condemned the act and urged swift judicial action. President Gustavo Petro later suggested the episode might be a misunderstanding, but the investigation continues amid growing public outrage.

Authorities noted a broader concern over foreign nationals suspected of sexual tourism, citing more than 60 inadmissions of foreigners in 2026, predominantly from the United States. The case has heightened scrutiny of adoption processes, as the detained individual was reportedly pursuing the adoption of the three children.