During a live television broadcast in Ecuador, armed and hooded men interrupted the Guayaquil-based network on Tuesday amidst a surge of kidnappings and violence in the country following the president's declaration of a state of emergency. The men then forced the studio staff onto the floor while shots and shouting were heard in the background, as shown in social media videos of the incident at the state-owned TC Television. As a result, the live stream signal is now offline.
The National Police of Ecuador announced on X, previously known as Twitter, that "specialized units" have been dispatched to address the emergency at the media station.
The nation has been shaken by multiple explosions, police abductions, and prison unrest shortly after President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency nationwide on Monday following the escape of high-profile gang leader Adolfo "Fito" Macias from a prison in Guayaquil.
Ever since Noboas' announcement, the National Police reported that at least seven police officers have been kidnapped in three separate cities. The escalating violence will serve as a major challenge for the new president, who was elected last year with a commitment to addressing the high crime rates.
The deteriorating security situation in the country is primarily caused by competing criminal groups, who have been carrying out vicious and frequently public displays of violence in the country's streets and prisons as they vie for control of drug trafficking routes.
Citizens holding Ecuadorean flags rally in Quito, Ecuador on August 10, 2023 to protest the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio, a prominent anti-corruption and anti-organized crime presidential candidate. Karen Toro/Reuters captured the scene.
Corruption and gang warfare have had a significant impact on Ecuador, as seen in a recent kidnapping where three agents were taken and an explosive device was placed and detonated in the vehicle they were traveling in, according to police.
Two vehicles were deliberately set on fire in Esmeraldas, causing a blaze at a gas station. Meanwhile in the capital city of Quito, police discovered a burned vehicle containing gas cylinders, leading to reports of a loud explosion in the area from concerned residents on social media.
Prison chaos
The police have also stated that they received reports of an explosion at a pedestrian bridge outside Quito, and they responded to "over 20 emergencies during (Monday) evening and overnight (Tuesday) in different parts of the country." Fortunately, there are currently no known casualties related to the explosions.
The Ecuadorian penitentiary service, SNAI, reported at least six incidents in prison facilities on Monday, including disturbances and the detention of prison agents. They stated that the situation in the prisons remains uncontrolled. Additionally, the mayor of Riobamba, Jhon Vinueza, announced that Fabricio Colon Pico, another alleged gang leader, has recently escaped from a prison.
Colon Pico and 38 other inmates were captured last Friday after being publicly identified by Ecuadors Attorney General Diana Salazar as part of a plan to attack her. Of those 38, 12 have been recaptured, the SNAI told CNN.
Soldiers are deployed in downtown Quito on January 9, 2024, a day after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency.
Rodrigo Buendia/AFP/Getty Images
The Armed Forces of Ecuador conducted control operations on Monday night and early Tuesday in the areas with the most conflict. Meanwhile, the National Assembly of Ecuador is convening an emergency meeting to develop specific actions in response to the national unrest and various acts that endanger public peace.
Authorities in Ecuador are still searching for Adolfo Macias, also known as "Fito," with over 3,000 police officers and military personnel deployed for the effort, the government reported on Sunday. The exact time and date of Macias' prison escape has not been determined. Macias is the leader of Los Choneros, a notorious gang in Ecuador that is linked to drug trafficking operations to Mexico and the US, in collaboration with the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico and the Oliver Sinisterra Front in Colombia, as per the Insight Crime research center.
The late Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was imprisoned for drug trafficking. Prior to his assassination, he claimed to have received threats from MacÃas, warning him to cease his campaign against gang violence for the leadership. This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.
