1 of 7 People wait outside Litoral Penitentiary for news of their incarcerated family members after deadly fights inside the jail in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Thursday, July 22, 2021. Rival gangs of inmates fought in two prisons in Ecuador, killing at least 18 people and injuring dozens, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
2 of 7 Security forces enter Litoral Penitentiary after deadly fights inside in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Thursday, July 22, 2021. Rival gangs of inmates fought in two prisons in Ecuador, killing at least 18 people and injuring dozens, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
3 of 7 People wait outside Litoral Penitentiary for news of their incarcerated family members after deadly fights inside the jail in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Thursday, July 22, 2021. Rival gangs of inmates fought in two prisons in Ecuador, killing at least 18 people and injuring dozens, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/Dolores Ocho
Jul 22, 2021 / 02:46 PM EST
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) Rival gangs of inmates fought in two prisons in Ecuador, killing at least 22 people and injuring about 80, authorities said Thursday.
Violence broke out on Wednesday in the main prison in the city of Guayaquil as well as the Latacunga prison in central Ecuador, according to prison authorities.
Nine police officers and 70 prisoners were injured in the fighting. Police have regained control of the prisons.
Police said on Twitter that there had been an escape attempt at the Latacunga prison, but that 65 prisoners were recaptured.
Gustavo Larrea, a former interior minister, said the fighting was among crime groups linked to drug trafficking that have ‘’relative control” of the prisons and seek to control illegal operations on the outside. The prison system and efforts to combat organized crime require an overhaul, he said.
Se eleva a 22 el número de muertos por motines en cárceles de Ecuador
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Tiempo de lectura: 3 min.
Un helicóptero militar sobrevuela la cárcel de Lacatunga, uno de los dos centros penitenciarios donde se registraron violentos motines.
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Afp
Quito. El presidente Guillermo Lasso decretó el jueves estado de emergencia y control militar y policial en los centros carcelarios luego de enfrentamientos entre bandas rivales que en las últimas horas dejaron 22 reclusos fallecidos y decenas de heridos en dos cárceles de Ecuador.
El mandatario afirmó en rueda de prensa que a las mafias que pretenden amedrentar a este país quiero decirles que se equivocan… Se equivocan si creen que nos va a temblar la mano. Les quiero decir que todos ustedes serán derrotados. Vamos a usar todo el poder de la ley para imponer el estado de derecho y garantizar la paz y los derechos humanos en los centros carcelarios de Ecuador . Añadió que ha cesado de sus funciones al director del Servic
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) â Ecuador s president declared a state of emergency Thursday in the country s prisons following fighting between rival gangs that killed 22 inmates and injured dozens.
The violence began Wednesday afternoon at the main prison in the city of Guayaquil, the Litoral Penitentiary, as well as at the Latacunga prison in central Ecuador, authorities said. Officials said police had quelled the rioting and regained control of the prisons, and nine officers and 59 prisoners were injured.
Police said on Twitter there had been an escape attempt at Latacunga, but that 78 prisoners were recaptured.
Gustavo Larrea, a former interior minister, said the fighting was among crime groups linked to drug trafficking that have âârelative controlâ³ of the prisons and seek to control illegal operations on the outside.
Ecuador president decrees emergency in prisons after clashes
A watch tower stands empty inside Litoral Penitentiary after deadly fights inside the jail in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Thursday, July 22, 2021. Rival gangs of inmates fought in two prisons in Ecuador, killing at least 18 people and injuring dozens, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa) July 22, 2021 - 6:46 PM
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) â Ecuador s president declared a state of emergency Thursday in the country s prisons following fighting between rival gangs that killed 22 inmates and injured dozens.
The violence began Wednesday afternoon at the main prison in the city of Guayaquil, the Litoral Penitentiary, as well as at the Latacunga prison in central Ecuador, authorities said. Officials said police had quelled the rioting and regained control of the prisons, and nine officers and 59 prisoners were injured.