(Daily Mail) Ecuador has erupted into a ‘civil war’ with cartel thugs after the president ordered the army onto the streets and declared a state of ‘internal armed conflict’.
Crazed criminals have rampaged through the South American country’s cities today after President Daniel Noboa, 36, ordered a state of emergency.
Hooded gangsters seized a state TV news studio today, while a university was attacked and jail guards reportedly executed by prisoners.
Ecuador has been rocked by a series of attacks including explosions and the abduction of several police officers after the government imposed a state of emergency in the wake of the escape of a powerful gang leader from prison.
Adolfo ‘Fito’ Macías, 44, the leader of Los Choneros gang, was found missing from his cell in a low security prison on the same day he was supposed to be transferred to a maximum security facility, on Sunday.
A manhunt is underway for Macías and Los Lobos leader Fabricio Colon Pico, who also escaped prison on Tuesday since his arrest last Friday for alleged involvement in a plot to assassinate Ecuador’s attorney general.
Peru also declared an emergency on Tuesday along its northern border with Ecuador because of the ongoing violence.
The US State Department said it was ‘extremely concerned’ by the violence. The British Foreign Office warned against all but essential travel to parts of the country.
Men with their faces covered entered the set of the TC Television network in the port city of Guayaquil and shouted that they had bombs. Noises similar to gunshots could be heard in the background
An Ecuadorian police squad runs into the premises of Ecuador’s TC television channel after gunmen burst into the state-owned television studio live on air on January 9
Ecuadorian soldiers take security measures with a military armored vehicle on roads after Ecuador president declares ‘internal armed conflict’
Armoured trucks have been seen on the streets of Ecuador’s capital city of Quito
President Daniel Noboa, 36, (pictured) has ordered the army onto the streets and declared a state of ‘internal armed conflict’
Armed men have broken into the set of a public television channel in Ecuador as it broadcast live and threatened people as the country reels from a series of attacks after the government imposed a state of emergency in the wake of the apparent escape of a powerful gang leader from prison
Men were seen brandishing what appeared to be bombs and grenades (pictured)
The TV studio was stormed in the port city of Guayaquil in western Ecuador
Macías, who was convicted of drug trafficking, murder and organized crime, was serving a 34-year sentence in La Regional prison in the port of Guayaquil.
Los Choneros is one of the Ecuadorian gangs authorities consider responsible for a spike in violence that reached a new level last year with the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.
The gang has links with Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, according to authorities.
Experts and authorities have acknowledged that gang members practically rule from inside the prisons, and Macías was believed to have continued controlling his group from within the detention facility.
Prison guards have reportedly been executed by the country’s cartel thugs. Pictured: Moments before a guard was killed
Gunmen were seen storming the University of Guayaquil on Tuesday
Ecuadorian soldiers have been ordered onto the streets to protect civilians from the cartels
Police detain suspected criminals a few blocks from the headquarters of TC television station
