At least eight people have died in several incidents involving criminal gangs in the Ecuadorian city of Guayaquil. Two people were injured, including a police officer who sustained gunshot wounds, police said at a press conference. There were more than 20 incidents in the port city, it said. In total, more than 600 emergency calls were received.
Gunmen broke into the premises of the state television station TC Televisión in the afternoon and took several employees hostage. Special police units later brought the television station back under control. It was initially unclear whether there were any deaths or injuries in the incident on the station’s premises.
Criminals break into hospitals
Two security guards and another person were killed in a shopping center. Criminals also broke into five hospitals in the city and briefly occupied them. The police and military later brought the hospitals back under control. A total of 14 suspects were arrested.
In view of the escalating gang violence in Ecuador, President Daniel Noboa sent the armed forces into battle against the South American country’s powerful gangs. Ecuador is in an internal armed conflict in the fight against organized crime, it said in a decree published on Tuesday.
State of emergency declared
Due to chaotic conditions in the prisons, the government of the South American country only declared a state of emergency on Monday. Gangs fought violently in prisons and took guards hostage. According to the prison administration, the head of the powerful gang “Los Choneros”, Adolfo Macías alias “Fito”, apparently managed to escape.
Violence has increased dramatically in Ecuador in recent years. With around 25 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, one of the highest values in Latin America was recorded in 2022.
