'Don't shoot, please': Ecuadorian channel staff intervened by hooded men

Hooded armed men entered the TC television channel this Tuesday, in the city of Guayaquil in southwestern Ecuador, and subdued its staff during a live broadcast.

(Video: a group of armed criminals took over a live television signal in Ecuador)

In the live images, several hooded men with weapons were seen holding channel workers on the floor, demanding that they ask the Police to leave the place live.

(Keep reading: Ecuador: escape of prisoner suspected of planning attack against attorney general confirmed)

The Ecuadorian Police confirmed that deployed “specialized units” outside the TC television channel. “Given the entry of criminals into the facilities of a media outlet in #GYE, our specialized units are deployed on site to attend to this emergency,” the Police reported in their X account.

(You can read: Who is Adolfo Macías, whose escape from a prison in Ecuador generated chaos throughout the country)

“Please don't shoot, don't shoot,” a woman can be heard saying in the televised images, while other people sitting on the floor cover their faces.

This Monday, the Ecuadorian government ordered a 60-day state of emergency to respond to a wave of violence with kidnapped police officers, prisoner escapes and explosive attacks.

“We are on the air so that they know that we do not play with the mafia”said one of the hooded men who entered the media. Immediately afterwards, the men, who were wearing caps and masks, displayed weapons and explosives on camera.

(Also read: Four police officers were kidnapped in Ecuador in the midst of the state of emergency)

Journalist José Luis Calderón was even pointed at with firearms while the subjects showed the explosives to the cameras, which continue to broadcast.

According to information circulating in local media, through WhatsApp groups the canal workers shared messages about what was happening. “Help, they want to kill us,” wrote a communicator to ask the police for help.

(Also: Ecuador: Noboa decrees a state of emergency after riots and escape of criminal leader)

Preliminarily, it was learned that the hooded men left a package of dynamite at the reception of the television station.

University of Guayaquil suspends classes

This Tuesday, the University of Guayaquil suspended all activities in its facilities where videos broadcast on social networks show several students fleeing, after moments before armed men took over the TC Television channel in Ecuador in full live broadcast.

“Given the moments of social unrest that the country is experiencing, we inform the university community that All academic and administrative activities are suspended in all areas of the University of Guayaquil, the teleworking system will be implemented.“, reported the university on its social networks, without giving more details.

(You can read: President of Ecuador declares internal armed conflict and calls for military action)

Other educational centers as well as some State institutions are on alert due to the violent acts recorded this Tuesday in the city of Guayaquil.

Ecuadorian justice deplores 'organized crime offensive'

The National Court of Justice (CNJ) of Ecuador, for its part, deplored the “offensive of organized crime” in the country, after prison riots, burning of cars in the streets, attacks with explosives and until the entry of armed hooded men into a television channel.

The CNJ, in a statement, said that “severely repudiates the offensive of organized crime against the life, liberty and integrity” of citizens and private property by criminal gangs.

Likewise, the plenary session of the supreme court of administration of justice deplored the attacks and threats that have arisen against the president of the CNJ, Iván Saquicela, and the State Attorney General, Diana Salazar.

(You can read: Ecuador will build two maximum security prisons in the style of El Salvador)

“These facts reveal the violent reaction of the structures of corruption and crime to the actions of the justice system,” the Court added.

After highlighting that the judicial function has not been intimidated by the violent action of organized crime, the highest court called on judges and other justice operators to apply decisions that “contribute to the fight against the actions of criminal groups and avoid impunity.” “.

He also expressed his support for the Government of President Daniel Noboa for implementing actions aimed at overcome the insecurity crisis that is affecting the country and also the forces of order (police and military) for seeking to preserve citizen security.

(Also: Violence in Ecuador: riots and incinerated vehicles in the coastal city of Esmeraldas)

“We urgently request the authorities of the Executive Branch to provide sufficient police and military protection to the National Court of Justice and the country's judicial complexes,” the Court added in its brief.

Finally, he called for unity to all State institutions to confront the wave of violence in the country with “joint and articulated actions.”

INTERNATIONAL EDITORIAL
*With agency information