Nearly 490 alleged members of Mara Salvatrucha went on trial in El Salvador, accused of tens of thousands of crimes, including around 29,000 murders.

The mass trial is part of President Nayib Bukele’s sweeping anti-gang crackdown, which has led to the arrest of over 91,000 suspects.

Prosecutors say the group acted as a “parallel state” and include top leaders among those being tried.

The crackdown followed a surge in violence in 2022, including a weekend in which 87 people were killed, CBS News has reported.

While the campaign has sharply reduced crime, critics argue it has involved serious human rights abuses and lack of due process.