Schools and shops remained closed, a significant number of people opted to stay indoors, and soldiers patrolled the streets in Ecuador’s major cities on the day after armed gang members invaded a television station during a live broadcast, instilling heightened levels of fear in a nation grappling with a surge in criminal violence.
Widespread tension gripped much of Ecuador following Tuesday’s assault at the public channel TC Television in Guayaquil, a coastal city known for its high crime rates.
Military personnel and tanks were deployed to safeguard hospitals, public transportation, and newsrooms in both Guayaquil and the capital city, Quito.
The masked intruders, armed with guns and explosives, forcefully entered TC Television’s offices and studio, unleashing approximately 15 minutes of on-air threats while intimidating journalists and other frightened staff.
Although there were no casualties, the police swiftly intervened, arresting 13 individuals. In a country where a presidential candidate was assassinated just the previous year, the audacious daytime display of force broadcasted into the homes and workplaces of Ecuadorians was unparalleled.
The motive behind targeting the station remained unclear, but the government responded promptly, the Associated Press reported.
President Daniel Noboa, who assumed office in November with a pledge to bring peace to the South American nation, issued a decree stating that Ecuador had entered an “internal armed conflict” with 20 drug-trafficking gangs designated by the government as terrorist groups.
The decree granted the Ecuadorian military the authority to “neutralize” these gangs within the bounds of international humanitarian law.
Some analysts viewed the televised attack as a pivotal moment for Ecuador in light of the president’s declaration.
Written by B.C. Begley
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B.C. Begley 