The attack took place as part of an offensive policy of "armed general strike" by the Shining Path against the government of Alberto Fujimori.

[3] At the beginning of 1992, the Shining Path leadership planned an offensive to undermine national power and internationally degrade the image of Alberto Fujimori, who was due to attend the 2nd Ibero-American Summit in Madrid.

[3] By 1992, Fujimori already had bad relations with the majority of the international Hispanic community due to his heavy-handed policy and excesses in the repression of the communist insurgency.

[2] The Peruvian Foreign Ministry reported that the attack was part of Shining Path operations during its so-called "armed general strike".

[1][2][3] A Latin American diplomat, upon visiting the rubble of the embassy, expressed that "Lima gives the impression of being under the siege of a virtual civil war.