Thousands of protesters gathered in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, on Saturday to call for justice for three young women whose torture and murders were broadcast live on social media.

Some demonstrators held placards with the names and pictures of the victims — Morena Verdi and Brenda Del Castillo, cousins aged 20, and 15-year-old Lara Gutierrez. One sign read "It was a narco-feminicide!"

"Women must be protected more than ever," said Del Castillo's father, Leonel, at the protest.

He had earlier shared that he had not been able to identify his daughter's body due to the extent of the abuse.

Antonio del Castillo, grandfather of the murdered cousins, called the perpetrators "bloodthirsty," adding that "you wouldn't do what they did to them to an animal."

What do we know about the victims of livestreamed femicide?

On Wednesday, the bodies of the three women were found buried in the yard of a house in a southern suburb of Buenos Aires, five days after they had disappeared.

The women got on a van on September 19, believing they were heading to an event, according to investigators.

Officials said that the triple femicide, which investigators tied to drug gangs, was broadcast live on a private account and watched by 45 members.

It was meant to "punish" them for breaking gang rules and send a "warning" message to the rest of the gang.

During the livestream, a gang leader is heard saying: "This is what happens to those who steal my drugs."

Police detain 5 suspects

 A fifth suspect was arrested on Friday in the Bolivian border city of Villazon following joint efforts by the police forces of both countries, bringing the total to three men and two women.

The alleged mastermind, a 20-year-old Peruvian, remains at large.

Meanwhile, Instagram's parent company Meta disputed that the murders were livestreamed on its platform.

"We have not found any evidence of the livestream taking place on Instagram. Our team continues to cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate this horrific crime," a spokesperson told the AFP news agency.

Edited by: Zac Crellin