Surprising footage from a live broadcast studio in Ecuador captures group of armed criminals crowding They were holding people hostage while the government tried to crack down on organized gangs.
The men, wearing balaclavas and mostly black clothing, chanted, “We don't need the police!” The feed ended abruptly after a gunshot was fired into the camera.
Police later said they had stabilized the situation at a police station in Guayaquil and arrested 13 armed men. They posted a photo on social media of a young man with his hands tied behind his back with zip ties.
National Police Commander Cesar Zapata said two hand grenades and other explosives had been recovered and vowed that the perpetrators would be tried for what he called “an act of terrorism.”
Ecuador's President Daniel Novoa had previously issued a decree declaring 22 gangs as terrorist organizations following a series of kidnappings by police.
Reporter Leonardo Flores Moreno Said According to Reuters, the men assaulted another broadcaster's staff and left behind a stick of dynamite before heading to the live broadcast studio.
“We were in a meeting and they alerted us so we were able to hide,” Flores said. “We don't know what's going on. People are nervous and we have a lot of colleagues who are hiding.”
another anchor Said One person was said to have been shot dead by the assailants, but police have not confirmed that report.
The country has been rocked by jailbreaks and devastating explosions, which Novoa blames on organized crime. Novoa took office in November and promised to crack down on violence related to the drug trade. The 60-page state of emergency declaration allows the president to order military patrols and institute a nationwide curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
State prison officials announced that 139 guards were being held hostage after 11 guards were released.
Video of the live attack is below:
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