Riots, online hostages, and state of emergency: Situation in Ecuador and fugitive prisoner's role in it
Ecuador is rocked by armed attacks and a state of emergency is declared (Photo: Getty Images)
Ecuador was shaken by armed attacks, including the seizure of the local TC Television channel. A state of emergency has been declared in the country, with reports of the first casualties.
What is known about the situation in Ecuador - in the material by RBC-Ukraine.
In preparing the material, sources such as Reuters, BBC, South American publications Lanacion, Alerta Mundial, and Primicias were used.
What happened
Yesterday, on January 9, armed individuals in masks seized the local TC Television studio in the city of Guayaquil. Hosts and other staff were taken hostage. All this happened live and was broadcast for about 20 minutes.
Gunshots and shouts could be heard in the live broadcast, and some attackers gestured towards the camera. Someone could be heard shouting, "No police."
Law enforcement detained 13 attackers, and the hostages were released. According to reports, two employees of the TV channel were injured.
Photo: Police arrested criminals who seized the TV channel (Getty Images)
What a fugitive prisoner has to do with it
The incident occurred a day after a group of prisoners escaped from prison. Among them was one of the most notorious leaders of the country's drug cartels, José Adolfo Macías ("Fito"). The leader of the Los Choneros gang was serving a 34-year sentence in La Regional prison for drug trafficking and murder.
Photo: José Adolfo Macías "Fito" (haberet com)
Los Choneros is a criminal organization that the authorities associate with extortion, murders, drug trafficking, and other crimes and also accuse it of controlling the country's main prisons.
In particular, the leader of Los Choneros "Fito" is also accused of the murder of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. Among the possible reasons for the murder is the fact that Villavicencio, who had a good chance of winning the elections, opposed the drug cartels.
State of emergency
Against the background of prison escapes, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa signed a decree providing for the declaration of a state of emergency in the country. Noboa called the country's events an "internal armed conflict." With his proclamation, he also declared 22 criminal groups terrorist organizations.
Thus, in Ecuador, the operation of schools was restricted, and public gatherings and free movement were prohibited. Exceptions were made only for medical workers, civil servants, rescuers, police, and other workers, ensuring the country's vital functions.
The president also ordered the strengthening of security for government officials and their families, as representatives of drug cartels intensified threats against the government.
Criminals accuse Noboa of escalation, who became president in November 2023 and began an intensive fight against drug trafficking.
Other attacks
The attack on the TV studio was not the only one. The day after the announcement of a state of emergency, at least four Ecuadorian police officers were kidnapped by criminals, and there were riots in six prisons.
It is known that prisoners took over more than a hundred prison guards as hostages and threatened to kill them if the military entered the prison territory.
Hostage takings were also recorded in other cities. In Guayaquil, attackers seized hospitals, although the order had already been restored. Bandits are taking over police stations, schools, universities, and even the metro. People are taken hostage and kidnapped.
Secuestro de policías, incendios y fugas
— El Necio (@ElNecio_Cuba) January 10, 2024
¿Qué está pasando en Ecuador?
Abro Hilo pic.twitter.com/9A3p0qWqe9
As of the morning of January 10, the media reports 10 deaths due to drug gang riots.
