The president of Ecuador has declared an “internal armed conflict” in the country against groups tied to an escaped gang leader following the taking of hostages on live TV earlier Tuesday.
A statement from the president’s office reads (translated from Spanish):
President Daniel Noboa Azin signed the executive decree declaring Internal Armed Conflict and identified the following transnational organized crime groups as terrorist organizations and belligerent non-state actors: Águilas, ÁguilasKiller, Ak47, Caballeros Oscuros, ChoneKiller, Choneros, Covicheros, Cuartel de las Ugly, Cuban, Fatal, Gangster, Kater Piler, Lizards, Latin Kings, Lobos, Los p.27, Los Tiburones, Mafia 18, Mafia Trébol, Patrones, R7, Tiguerones.
The statement concludes, “President Daniel Noboa Azin ordered the Armed Forces to carry out military operations to neutralize these groups.”
Earlier on Tuesday, a TV station anchor in southern Ecuador was taken hostage by armed gunmen while reporting live on air, according to footage shared on social media.
The armed raid on the TV station, located on the campus of the University of Guayaquil in Guayas Province, caused scenes of panic, other images shared to social media also showed.
According to further reporting, the gunmen were captured shortly after the raid began.
On Monday, Ecuador’s government declared a state of emergency after the escape of Adolfo Macías, known as “Fito,” the leader of the Los Choneros, one of the most powerful gangs in the country.
Macías was scheduled to be moved to a maximum security prison in Guayaquil prior to his escape.
UPDATE #1 (4:58 EST):
Following reports on social media that a terror attack was ongoing late Tuesday, the University of Guayaquil put out a statement announcing all activities are suspended. “Given the moments of social unrest that are being experienced in the country, we inform the university community that all academic and administrative activities are suspended in all areas of the University of Guayaquil [and] the teleworking system will be implemented,” read a statement posted by the University on social media (translated from Spanish).
One video, shared on social media by a local journalist, showed students and professors barricading themselves within a classroom. Simultaneously, other footage on social media showed state security forces in control of a TV station on the university’s campus that was subject to an armed hostage takeover just hours earlier.
UPDATE #2 (5:38 EST):
Late Tuesday, video footage on social media showed hostages from TV station Televisora TC being released and reunited with their families.
At the same time, former President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, posted a video message on social media describing “unimaginable” scenes occurring in the country. “Today is a national moment,” the former President said, as he announced that “whatever political difference may exist” should be put aside to help President Daniel Noboa achieve victory against the armed criminal groups currently attacking the state (translated from Spanish).
