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QUITO, Ecuador — Armed, hooded men attacked an Ecuadorian television station during a live broadcast on Tuesday, forcing terrified staff onto the floor, as the country’s new president declared a state of armed conflict.
“Police, get out!” some of the men could be heard saying while holding members of the staff at gunpoint in the broadcast from the station in Guayaquil.
Police asserted control and detained about 10 of the alleged assailants, some of whom appeared to be members of the powerful gang Los Tiguerones, senior intelligence officials told The Washington Post, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the details.
The TV station takeover was one of several attacks reported across the country on Tuesday, including a series of explosions and the kidnappings of police officers.
On Monday, President Daniel Noboa had declared a state of emergency after a top gang leader escaped from a prison.
In his Tuesday decree, Noboa directed the military to intervene in the escalating crisis and declared several gangs as terrorists.
Tuesday’s attacks appeared to be coordinated, intelligence officials said, and could indicate an alliance between gangs to send a message to a government that has been planning to transfer top gang leaders to maximum-security prison wards.
As chaos consumed Guayaquil, the presidential complex in the historic center of Quito was evacuated.
This is an emerging news story and will be updated.
Source link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/01/09/ecuadoran-president-declares-armed-conflict-gunmen-storm-tv-studio/