Another Prison Riot In Ecuador Leaves 15 Police, Soldiers Wounded
Umer Jamshaid Published November 04, 2022 | 08:20 AM
Guayaquil, Ecuador, Nov 4 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Nov, 2022 ) :At least 15 police and soldiers were wounded Thursday in the latest prison riot to hit Ecuador, officials said, as the country is gripped by violence blamed on organized crime groups waging a deadly drug war.
The 15 were injured while trying to put down an uprising at the infamous Guayas 1 prison in the southwestern port city of Guayaquil, said Guillermo Rodriguez, director of the SNAI prison authority.
A source at SNAI who asked not to be named told AFP that the police officers were confronted by inmates with guns and explosives.
Some 1,300 police took part in the prison assault, said General Victor Zarate, a police commander.
Explosions were heard coming from within the prison until midafternoon, when they ceased. Drones flew overhead.
An unknown number of soldiers also participated, and wounded soldiers were carried out to aid stations set up outside the overcrowded prison, which holds 6,900 inmates.
Ecuador -- once a relatively peaceful neighbor of major cocaine producers Colombia and Peru -- has seen a wave of violent crime that authorities blame on turf battles between rival gangs with ties to Mexican cartels.
President Guillermo Lasso, who declared a state of emergency and nightly curfews in the western provinces of Guayas and Esmeraldas on Tuesday, tweeted Thursday that his government will quell the violence.
"This government will not surrender to narco-terrorists; in this country, they will not impose their will," Lasso tweeted along with photos of inmates lying face down in a prison yard.
Civilians have increasingly been caught up in the bloodshed that has claimed more than 60 police lives since last year.
Hundreds of inmates have died in Ecuador's overcrowded prisons since February last year -- many beheaded or burned as the gang war is waged also behind bars -- especially at Guayas 1.
Widespread corruption among guards allows inmates to obtain guns and explosives, among other contraband.
In attacks Tuesday, five police officers and a civilian were killed. Groups armed with weapons including car bombs hit more than 18 targets in the two provinces, including police and gas installations, a clinic -- where a civilian was critically wounded -- and a bus terminal.
Prisoners at a facility in Esmeraldas also took hostage eight guards on Tuesday to protest the inmate transfer, but later freed them. In the same city on Monday, two headless bodies were found hanging from a pedestrian bridge.
Tuesday's attacks were said to be in response to a mass transfer of inmates from the Guayas 1 prison, which is largely in the control of gangs.
Clashes at the prison on Wednesday left two inmates dead and six wounded.
Ecuador has gone from being a drug transit route in recent years to an important distribution center in its own right.
The United States and Europe are the main destinations of drugs from Latin America.
The murder rate in Ecuador nearly doubled in 2021 to 14 per 100,000 inhabitants, and reached 18 per 100,000 between January and October this year, according to official data.
In 2021, law enforcement seized a record 210 tons of drugs, mostly cocaine. So far this year's seizures total 160 tons.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Indian board makes important statement
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 7 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 07 May 2024
Sharjah Animation Conference explores cross-cultural collaboration opportunities ..
Sharjah Public Library provides countless opportunities for young imaginations t ..
Sharjah Police launches 'Your belongings, your responsibility' awareness campaig ..
Dubai Police displays Innovative Tourism Security Services at 'ATM 2024'
Mohammad Haris, Aamir Jamal not part of national squad for Ireland, England: Bab ..
Erdogan opens former church to Muslim worshippers
Cultural events hallmark of a nation, Director RAC
Iraq hangs 11 convicted of 'terrorism': security, health sources
Stocks rise on renewed hopes of rate cuts
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Concerted efforts urged to ease traffic flow on city roads
2 days ago -
Land degradation: A threat to food security
2 days ago -
Revamping health sector, a gigantic task ahead
2 days ago -
American band promotes intercultural harmony thru music fusions
3 days ago -
Waste Management – A persistent challenge for MWMC
4 days ago -
Experts for ending child labour
6 days ago
-
Labour Day - A reminder for better facilities to workers
6 days ago -
Stage Drama Mohabati Manhoon presents in Arts council Larkana
9 days ago -
Wheat farmers in a fix on price, procurement mechanism
9 days ago -
Modern tools to help transform crime investigation procedures
9 days ago -
Sanam Marvi captivates audience with mesmerizing performance
10 days ago -
Modern Education Techniques: A pathway to achieve economic development
11 days ago