Ecuador has witnessed explosions and the abduction of several police officers following President Daniel Noboa’s declaration of a state of emergency in response to the apparent escape of a powerful gang leader.

 

On a regular day at the TC Television studio in Guayaquil, Ecuador, things took a scary turn during the mid-afternoon newscast. Masked gunmen unexpectedly entered, causing at least 15 minutes of fear and threats. The entire incident unfolded live on air, shocking viewers and raising concerns about the safety of the media personnel involved.

In the middle of a live broadcast on a public TV station during the show “After the News,” a man with a pistol and others, including someone with a shotgun, appeared. They brought station employees onto the set and told them to lie down. Chaos ensued with screams and the disturbing sound of gunshots.

In the middle of a live TV broadcast, some masked individuals with guns entered a station in Ecuador. One of them warned that they shouldn’t mess with the mafia because they were on air. The gunmen pointed their guns at the news staff, and someone pleaded for them not to shoot. After about 15 minutes, the TV broadcast was abruptly cut.

This alarming incident occurred following other attacks and police abductions. Additionally, it was reported after two leaders of powerful gangs in Ecuador apparently escaped from prison.

In Tuesday’s incident, fortunately, no one was harmed. Authorities have detained all 13 individuals involved, and they will face charges of terrorism. President Daniel Noboa, who took office in November with a commitment to bringing peace to Ecuador, declared a state of “internal armed conflict” following the violence, which analysts see as a significant moment for the country.

Later on Tuesday, President Noboa met with his security Cabinet. The head of the Armed Forces Joint Command stated that the gangs carried out the attacks as a reaction to the government’s actions against them.

“Some really bad people are causing a lot of violence to scare everyone,” said Adm. Jaime Vela, describing the attacks in Ecuador as “unprecedented.”

The country has experienced a series of attacks since Monday night, but the assault on a live news show was particularly frightening for people watching at home.

Political analyst Will Freeman sees this as a significant moment. While Ecuador has faced violence before, Freeman believes this marks a new level of danger. He emphasizes that the government’s response will determine if these incidents continue or if crucial changes are made to prevent further crimes.

Alina Manrique, who heads the news at TC Television, was told to get on the floor during the attack.

“They pointed a gun at my head,” she shared with The Associated Press. “I thought about my whole life and my two children.”

Alina Manrique described how some of the attackers tried to hide when they realized the police had surrounded them.

“I am still shocked,” she said. “Everything has fallen apart… All I know is that it’s time to leave this country and go far away.”

Police entered the TV station and stopped the attackers. If found guilty of terrorism, they could face up to 13 years in prison.

On Monday, following the escape of a prominent gang leader from prison, President Noboa declared a national state of emergency. This allows authorities to temporarily suspend people’s rights and use the military, particularly in places like prisons.

Masked gunmen violently stormed a TV studio in Ecuador amidst a recent escalation in gang attacks across the country.
Ecuador has witnessed explosions and the abduction of several police officers following President Daniel Noboa’s declaration of a state of emergency in response to the apparent escape of a powerful gang leader.

Then, on Tuesday, right after the attack on the TV station, Noboa issued another order. This new rule identified 20 gangs involved in drug activities as terrorist groups. The president gave the military the power to stop them, but they have to follow the rules of international humanitarian law.

About 30 attacks have happened in Ecuador since the leader of Los Choneros gang, Fito, went missing from his prison cell. He was supposed to move to a safer prison, but it didn’t happen.

Another gang leader, Colón Pico from Los Lobos, also escaped from prison. He was caught for kidnapping and trying to hurt an important prosecutor.

The attacks included an explosion near a big court, and four police officers were kidnapped on Monday night—one in Quito and three in Quevedo.

Los Choneros, linked to drug trafficking, is causing a lot of trouble. Fito’s location is unknown, and an investigation is going on. Guards are charged with helping him escape, but it’s unclear if he ran away or is hiding in the prison.

Ecuador, by the Pacific Ocean, has become an important place for drug traffickers. The fighting between gangs and the government for control of ports and routes is causing a lot of violence.

Groups like Los Choneros, connected to Mexican and Colombian cartels, are fighting for routes and control, even from inside prisons where more than 450 inmates have died since 2021.