Masked assailants invaded a live TV studio in Ecuador, terrifying employees who were forced to the ground during the broadcast by TC, a public television channel in Guayaquil.
Police intervened, freeing the staff and arresting 13, though two employees sustained injuries.
This alarming incident coincided with a state of emergency initiated after a notorious gangster, Adolfo Macías Villamar (known as Fito), mysteriously disappeared from prison.
Whether this event is connected to Fito’s escape remains uncertain.
The situation prompted neighboring Peru to deploy police to prevent any instability from spilling across the border.
The US condemned the audacious attacks, expressing readiness to assist Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa in addressing the crisis.
Ecuador, known for its exports like bananas, oil, and seafood, has been grappling with escalating violence tied to drug cartel conflicts over cocaine routes to the US and Europe.
The assault at the TV station involved gunmen threatening employees, causing injuries and chaos.
President Noboa declared an “internal armed conflict,” mobilizing the armed forces to tackle organized crime and violence attributed to criminal gangs.
The state of emergency imposed curfews to contain the unrest following Fito’s escape, which led to riots in multiple prisons, resulting in deaths and injuries.
Police officers were killed, and inmates, including another drug lord, escaped, exacerbating the turmoil. A disturbing video surfaced with kidnapped officers issuing threats against the government.
The gravity of the situation unnerved residents in cities like Quito and Cuenca, raising concerns about security and the unprecedented attack on a TV station.
The turmoil in Ecuador reflects ongoing violence within its prisons, often due to clashes between rival gangs like the Choneros, implicated in riots and deadly fights.
Fito’s escape dealt a blow to President Noboa’s administration, which had already faced challenges after the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.
Villavicencio had received death threats from Fito before his tragic death during a campaign rally in Quito.
The intricate web of violence, escape, and political upheaval continues to unsettle Ecuador, presenting significant challenges to its leadership and stability.
Source-BBC
