A series of explosions, kidnappings of police officers and prison escapes have been recorded in the last few hours in different parts of Ecuador, where a state of exception has been in force since this Monday (8), with a nighttime curfew. following incidents that occurred in six prisons across the country.
The first explosions were recorded in the city of Esmeraldas, when a vehicle was set on fire, at a time when prison inmates demanded that prisoner transfers not be carried out or that progress be made in the controls of penitentiary centers. However, the Presidency's Communication Secretary, Roberto Izurieta, stated this Tuesday (9) that they will not give up on such actions.
Among the violent acts reported, there was the launch yesterday afternoon of an explosive device near the Esmeraldas Subzonal Command, with no reports of injuries or material damage.
In Quito, a vehicle containing two gas cylinders was set on fire at night in the south zone, while an explosion was recorded on one of the pedestrian crossings on a highway that connects to a nearby valley.
In turn, Iván Saquicela, president of the National Court of Justice, reported the detonation of an explosive device outside his home, in the country's capital.
This afternoon, police announced the arrest of two suspects of planting an explosive device: the criminals had left an abandoned suitcase and set it on fire in the back of a police unit in Quito, Ecuadorian authorities said.
Detonations were also recorded in the Andean city of Cuenca and violent events in the provinces of Loja and Chimborazo.
In Chimborazo, prisoners escaped, including Fabricio Colón Pico, who was arrested last week shortly after the State Attorney General, Diana Salazar, mentioned him in the planning of an alleged conspiracy against his life.
The National Service for Comprehensive Care for Adults Deprived of Liberty and Adolescent Offenders (SNAI) did not comment on the escape of prisoners or the case of Colón Pico.
However, John Vinueza, mayor of Riobamba, stated that Colón Pico is one of 32 escapees from that city's prison. The prisoners left through guardhouse two of that prison center, the portal reported. Firstfruits.
KIDNAPPED AGENTS
During the incidents in prisons, videos circulated of people dressed in prison guard uniforms, reading messages from prisoners in which they asked the head of state, Daniel Noboa, to stop his control actions in those establishments.
The SNAI reported on the retention of prison officers, but did not detail how many and which prisons or the conditions in which they are found.
This Tuesday (9), other videos began circulating again in which they threatened to kill prison officers if Noboa persisted in his plan.
In Quito, the police confirmed that a police officer was kidnapped at UPC Llano 1 by three criminals who “drove a colorful vehicle without a license plate”, he said on his account on the social network X.
Furthermore, a video is circulating on social media of a person in a police uniform, who identifies himself as sub-officer Alberto Gómez, from the Llanos sector, who asks Noboa to stop his actions while weapons are observed pointing at his head.
The SNAI, the Ministry of the Interior and the police have not confirmed whether those who appear in the media are, in fact, prison guards or police officers. On the other hand, authorities indicated that during the night of Monday (8), at the Wilson Franco Community Police Unit (UPC), located in the city of Machala, three police officers who were on duty were kidnapped.
REINFORCEMENT IN SECURITY
The mayor of Quito, Pabel Muñoz, stated that the country and Quito “are going through an unprecedented security crisis”, which is why he announced that security will be reinforced in critical areas and public services and asked the government “to militarize strategic installations of the city to guarantee its functioning”.
The Ministry of Education decided that school activities will be carried out virtually in some educational establishments, including those closest to prisons. (With EFE Agency)
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