Gunmen storm Ecuador TV studio amid wave of violence
● Military to hunt 22 gangs named by president as terrorist groups
Gunmen with explosives stormed a TV station on-air in Ecuador on Tuesday during a wave of violence around the nation that prompted President Daniel Noboa to name 22 gangs as terrorist organisations to be hunted by the military.
Police arrested the 13 men who burst into TC’s studio during a live broadcast, while elsewhere at least seven police officers were kidnapped and there were several explosions.
“Thank God, we are alive, because it was an extremely violent attack,” Jorge Rendon, deputy director of the news programme that was interrupted, said.
Noboa, who took office in November promising to stem drug-related violence, declared a 60-day state of emergency on Monday in response to prison violence — including hostagetakings of guards by inmates — and the apparent escape of Los Choneros gang leader Adolfo Macias over the weekend.
In a revised decree on Tuesday, Noboa recognised an “internal armed conflict” and identified nearly two dozen gangs as terrorist groups, including Los Choneros.
The government has said the violence is a reaction to Noboa’s plan to build a new high security prison and transfer jailed gang leaders.
“They have created a wave of violence to frighten the populace,” Admiral Jaime Vela, head of the joint command of the armed forces, said, adding that the decree made the gangs military targets.
Prison transfers of gang leaders have historically led to violence, with hundreds of inmates killed in recent years.
Gang wars over lucrative cocaine smuggling routes have also fuelled the instability.
Peru declared an emergency along its border with Ecuador, while other South American nations Brazil, Colombia and Chile all expressed support for Noboa’s government, and China closed its embassy and consulates until further notice.
The takeover of TC’s studio in Guayaquil was broadcast for about 20 minutes. Men wearing balaclavas and mostly dressed in black wielded guns and accosted staffers huddling on the floor.
Gunshots and yelling were heard and some of the invaders gestured at the camera.
“They shot one of our cameramen in the leg, broke the arm of another one. They fired bullets,” Rendon said.
“The police came in minutes, surrounded the TV station and tactical units intervened.”
TC shares a site with another public broadcaster, Gamavision, and several radio stations.
The attackers entered through Gamavision’s reception, assaulting staff and leaving dynamite behind, TC news co-ordinator and reporter Leonardo Flores Moreno said, adding he and others in a meeting were able to hide.
Police said they seized explosives and guns, and showed images of young men kneeling with their hands zip-tied.
The channel was back onair for its evening news broadcast, with anchors saying the attorney-general’s office was on site collecting evidence. Two employees were injured, it said.
In the southern city of Machala, Quito and Los Rios province seven police officers were kidnapped in three incidents, police said earlier.
The three officers taken in Machala were freed late on Tuesday, the police said, and 10 arrests were made.
The police confirmed explosions in Esmeraldas and Los Rios, while mayor’s offices in Cuenca and Quito confirmed others, and the attorney-general’s office said it was investigating one in Guayaquil.
Media also reported explosions in Loja and Machala.
Prisons agency SNAI said earlier a group of prisoners escaped from a prison in Riobamba, including accused gang member Fabricio Colon Pico, suspected of a plot against the attorney-general.
Seventeen of the 39 escapees had been recaptured, the prosecutor’s office said.
Eleven prison guards taken hostage over two days had been released, SNAI said, but 139 guards and other staff were still being held.
Guayaquil authorities said there were “takeover” incidents at five hospitals, but police and soldiers had restored order.
Video footage on social media showed armed men on the streets, traffic at a standstill and a helicopter overhead in Guayaquil. Shops and offices closed early in Quito. —