Gunmen raid Ecuador TV studio amid prison escape crisis
PTC News Desk: Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa declared a state of "internal armed conflict" after a notorious criminal's prison escape triggered chaos. Hooded assailants stormed a TV studio amid escalating threats from gangsters, leading to military operations against criminal groups.
In Quito, Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa issued orders for military operations following gangsters' threats and the armed intrusion into a television studio. This drastic move came in response to an intensifying security crisis that ensued after a powerful criminal boss escaped prison.
Once considered a peaceful haven, Ecuador now grapples with soaring violence as rival gangs, linked to cartels in Colombia and Mexico, vie for dominance. Noboa announced on social media, "I've directed the armed forces to take action against these groups."
Que pena todo lo que esta pasando con los hermanos del canal tc televisión, Dios los cuide pic.twitter.com/behRNVacSz — Emergencias Ec (@EmergenciasEc) January 9, 2024
The chaos unfolded when armed intruders with rifles and grenades raided TC television in Guayaquil, with a distressing plea, "Don't shoot, please don't shoot," echoing amidst gunshots. The assailants subdued the terrified crew, causing chaos and distress. A harrowing moment unfolded live on air, with an employee conveying the alarming situation via WhatsApp: "The criminals are on air; they came in to kill us."
Following the tumultuous incident, officers intervened, yet the aftermath revealed a wounded individual within the studio. This alarming escalation followed the gang's retaliation against a state of emergency and curfew declared by Noboa. Gangsters kidnapped officers and carried out explosions, demonstrating their resistance to government measures.
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President Noboa, elected on an anti-crime platform, vowed to confront cartels after a high-profile gang leader's escape. However, in a chilling video, kidnapped officers delivered a menacing message to Noboa, declaring retaliatory "war."
Ecuador witnessed unrest in multiple provinces, with reports of explosions and kidnappings. A prison crackdown ensued, as armed forces stormed facilities where guards were taken hostage.
Noboa asserted determination to restore peace, but the country grapples with surging drug-related violence, marked by a quadrupled murder rate and a grim record of homicides and drug seizures. The chaos, underscored by prisoner clashes and a pervasive climate of violence, underscores Ecuador's urgent struggle to restore stability amid escalating criminal turmoil.
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(Inputs from agencies)
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