Chaos ensued in Ecuador as an armed gang stormed the studios of Ecuadorian television station (TC) during a live broadcast.
The gang’s action created panic and prompted President Daniel Noboa to declare a state of emergency. The armed group, wearing balaclavas and brandishing large guns, interrupted the live feed, forcing terrified staff to lie on the floor.
Shots and yelling were heard, and the broadcast eventually cut out on Tuesday.
The Ecuadorian President had declared a state of emergency in response to the disappearance of a powerful gang leader, Adolfo Macias, from prison. In his statement, the president labeled 22 gangs as terrorist organizations, proclaiming Ecuador to be in a state of “internal armed conflict.”
The armed forces have been ordered to “neutralize” these groups in accordance with international law and human rights.
Alina Manrique, the head of news for TC Television, recounted having a gun pointed at her head during the terrifying incident. She expressed shock and stated that, “Everything has collapsed. All I know is that it’s time to leave this country and go very far away.”
Ecuador’s national police deployed specialized units to the site, leading to 13 arrests. The police posted images of individuals with their hands zip-tied behind their backs, captured during the intervention at the studio.
This assault came on the heels of a series of violent events, including the kidnapping of police officers, explosions in various cities, and prison inmates seizing guards as hostages.
President Noboa’s tough stance reflects a broader effort to combat rising crime rates and the influence of narco-traffickers.
Critics, however, warned against the potential for human rights abuses and excessive use of force. The government attributes recent incidents to its plan to build a new high-security prison and transfer jailed gang leaders, asserting that negotiation will not be carried out with “terrorists“.
Ecuador has witnessed a surge in violence in recent years as rival gangs, with ties to Mexican and Colombian cartels, vie for dominance.
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Last year alone, the country experienced over 7,800 homicides and seized 220 tonnes of drugs, setting a grim record. Clashes between prisoners since February 2021 have claimed the lives of more than 460 people, further emphasizing the gravity of the security situation in the nation.
