Masked gunmen stormed a public television station in Ecuador, brandishing weapons and explosives during a live broadcast on Tuesday, while at least 10 people were killed in the country's ongoing war against gangs.
The armed intruders entered the "TC" television network studio in the city of Guayaquil during a news program that was being aired live to thousands of homes across the country and shouted that they had bombs.
Though no one was killed in the attack, authorities announced the arrest of all 13 assailants, who will be charged with terrorism. The authorities have not disclosed the identities of the attackers or the other series of recent attacks that have shaken the country.
Shortly after the invasion by the gunmen, President Daniel Noboa issued a decree identifying 20 gangs involved in drug trafficking in the country as terrorist groups and authorized armed forces to disable them in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The President of Ecuador also ordered the activation and intervention of the armed forces and national police to ensure the sovereignty and unity of Ecuador in the face of organized crime and terrorist organizations.
On Monday, Noboa declared a state of emergency throughout Ecuador, including prisons, after the country's most dangerous gang leader, known as "Vito," escaped from prison last Sunday, leading to riots and insubordination in several prisons.
10 Dead
In the same context, at least 10 people, including two police officers, were killed in clashes between security forces and the army in Ecuador against drug gangs.
A police official in Guayaquil reported that eight people were killed and three wounded in this coastal city located in the southwest of the country, which is a stronghold for drug gangs.
The national police announced on the "X" platform that two of its members were killed by armed criminals in the neighboring city of Nobol. These statistics were published shortly after Noboa issued a decree affirming that the country is facing "an internal armed conflict."
On Tuesday, officials announced that another gang leader, Fabrice Colon Pico from the Los Lobos group, had escaped from prison in the city of Riobamba. However, he was quickly captured on Friday during an investigation into kidnapping operations, and was charged with attempting to murder one of the country's leading prosecutors.
In recent years, these gangs have gained power as Ecuador has become a key point for exporting cocaine produced in neighboring Peru and Colombia.
It's noteworthy that Ecuador has experienced an escalation in violent incidents stemming from conflicts between competing local gangs, which have connections with gangs from Mexico and Colombia.
