The authorities denounce the takeover by armed men of five hospitals and the Ecuadorian channel TC Televisión
Three police officers who had been kidnapped released
At least ten people have died, including two Ecuadorian National Police officers, and three have been injured, within the framework of the “internal armed conflict” declared by the Ecuadorian Government, led by Daniel Noboa, due to the spiral of violence unleashed due to the activity of “narcoterrorist” groups.
Initially, the death of eight people and three injuries was reported, including a police officer injured by a firearm, in separate incidents in Guayaquil, as explained by the police force in a press conference held with the city’s mayor. , Aquiles Álvarez, in the facilities of the municipal public company for Risk Management and Security Control of Guayaquil, Segura EP.
In a subsequent statement, the Ecuadorian Police reported the death of two agents “vilely murdered by armed criminals” in the town of Nobol, in the Guayas region, whom it identified as Alex Taday and Luis Guanotuña. “This is the sacrifice that we swear to the country and we will not rest until we find those responsible for this criminal act,” as he indicated through his social networks.
The working group led by the mayor of Guayaquil has reported that the takeover of five hospitals and the Ecuadorian channel TC Televisión by a group of armed hooded men has also been recorded, as well as damage to infrastructure and vehicles.
In addition, the authorities have announced the release of three agents who had been kidnapped in the city of Machala, in the south of the country, in an incident in which they have arrested a dozen people involved “in these acts of terrorism.” They have also arrested twelve alleged perpetrators of violent events in Esmeraldas (north), from whom they have seized Molotov cocktails and stolen vehicles.
In turn, the Police have asserted that they have dismantled a “terrorist” organization in Ambato (center), in an operation that has resulted in 17 arrests, including three fugitives, and several vehicles and weapons seized. Likewise, they have arrested in Los Ríos (center) seven “subjects linked to the kidnapping of police officers and terrorist acts with explosives.”
For its part, the Ecuadorian Prosecutor’s Office has reported that it will prosecute thirteen people for the crime of terrorism because they entered the television station’s facilities armed and for retaining the media outlet’s staff, according to a statement published in its profile of the social network X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Public Ministry has also filed charges for the crime of evasion against the 17 prisoners who escaped from the Riobamba Deprivation of Liberty Center and who were recaptured during the day this Tuesday.
The mayor of Guayaquil has stressed that his commitment “is to the security” of the city: “We are going to work proactively and collaboratively with the public force, whom we support unrestrictedly. We will continue to cooperate with our local security contingent to strengthen the response joint response to the serious security crisis”.
He has also called for “national unity” and has shown his confidence that “the Armed Forces and the National Police” will take the necessary measures to restore order and peace in the country. The mayor has expressed his solidarity with the families of the victims and has sent its disposition to the president.
This comes after Noboa decreed a state of emergency on Monday to allow police and military commanders to intervene in prisons after ensuring that the country is experiencing “a prison security crisis”, after the authorities confirmed the escape of ‘Fito ‘ from the Guayas Regional prison, in Guayaquil, one of those involved in the recent wave of violence and instability within Ecuadorian prisons.
