Status: 09.01.2024, 22:30 p.m.
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Security measures in Quito: Soldiers patrol in front of the government palace. © Dolores Ochoa/AP/dpa
Shocking moment on the air: In Guayaquil, gunmen storm the television station TC Televisión and take journalists hostage. The president calls in special forces.
Guayaquil - In Ecuador, gunmen broke into the premises of a television station during a live broadcast.
Several journalists and staff were threatened by a group of criminals with machine guns and explosives and taken hostage, television images showed. "We're on the air so they know you're not playing with the mafia," one man said to the camera. Gunshots and screams from people could also be heard in the footage. It was the state-owned television station TC Televisión in the port city of Guayaquil.
Arrest of several persons
Criminals broke into the premises of a media company in Guayaquil, the Ecuadorian police announced via Platform X, formerly Twitter. "Special units will be deployed on the ground to deal with this emergency." Shortly thereafter, police confirmed the arrest of several people.
President Daniel Noboa had declared a state of emergency just a day earlier in view of the chaotic conditions in the prisons of the South American country. Among other things, this temporarily restricts the right of assembly, according to the decree published on Monday. In addition, a night-time curfew will apply for the next 60 days.
Escape of drug lords
Criminal gangs had engaged in fierce clashes in the country's prisons and taken guards hostage. According to the prison administration, the head of the powerful gang "Los Choneros", Adolfo Macías alias "Fito", had apparently managed to escape. This Tuesday, the agency also reported the escape of another drug lord, Fabricio Colón Pico, one of the leaders of the "Los Lobos" gang.
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Violence in Ecuador has increased dramatically in recent years. With around 25 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, one of the highest values in Latin America was measured in 2022. Many of the overcrowded prisons are controlled by criminal organizations, and there are frequent fights between gangs. Dpa