On Tuesday in Guayaquil, individuals pass by a damaged bus. The scene was captured by Vicente Gaibor del Pino for Reuters.
In a shocking incident, masked individuals armed with pistols and what appeared to be sticks of dynamite invaded the set of TC Television, a public television channel in Ecuador. The intrusion occurred during a live broadcast in the city of Guayaquil, with the assailants declaring the presence of bombs. The interruption was accompanied by background sounds resembling gunshots, leaving viewers in suspense about the safety of station personnel.
The masked men, whose identities remain unknown, forcibly entered the building, leading to a tense situation. Alina Manrique, the head of news for TC Television, recounted the harrowing experience of one of the intruders pointing a gun at her head, compelling her to the floor. The incident, broadcast live for approximately 15 minutes, ended with the station's signal being abruptly cut off.
Following this unsettling event, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa issued a decree, characterizing the country as being in an "internal armed conflict." The decree also labeled 20 drug trafficking gangs as terrorist groups, granting the military authority to "neutralize" these groups within the framework of international humanitarian law.
Promptly after the televised intrusion, Ecuador's national police chief announced the arrest of all the masked intruders. The police successfully confiscated the weapons and explosives the perpetrators had in their possession, leading to the detention of 13 individuals. Ecuador's attorney general's office stated that those arrested would face terrorism charges, with investigations ongoing to gather additional evidence at the TC Television network.
The recent surge in attacks across Ecuador is attributed to the apparent escapes of two influential drug gang leaders, creating a state of unrest. President Noboa, responding to the escalating situation, declared a national state of emergency, providing authorities with the power to suspend certain rights and deploy the military, particularly in prisons.
The government has not disclosed the full extent of the attacks, but they coincide with the escape of gang leaders Adolfo Macias and Fabricio Colon Pico. Macias, associated with the Los Choneros gang, has been linked to drug trafficking and violence, with his whereabouts currently unknown. The unrest includes abductions of police officers and explosions near key judicial figures' residences.
President Noboa, determined to restore peace, conveyed through social media that his government would confront crime head-on. The attacks commenced shortly after his announcement, reflecting a widespread issue that Ecuador is grappling with concerning the influence of gangs, particularly within prison facilities.
In response to the ongoing crisis, the Ecuadorian government is intensifying efforts to address the challenges posed by powerful criminal organizations, striving to bring stability and security to the nation.
