Ecuador: Prison Riot Leaves Three Dead, Six Injured in ‘Internal Armed Conflict’ Against Organized Crime Gangs

In Ecuador, a riot at the Regional Prison of Guayaquil has left three prisoners dead and six others injured. The government has declared a state of emergency due to an “internal armed conflict” against organized crime gangs. The National Service of Comprehensive Attention to Persons Deprived of Liberty (SNAI) confirmed the number of deceased and injured individuals after the riot.

The disturbances within the prison began late at night, with explosions and fires caused by inmates burning mattresses. It took the police and armed forces around four hours to regain control of the prison, which is part of a larger complex housing around 12,000 prisoners. The inmates were reportedly protesting the treatment by the military during the militarization of Ecuadorian prisons under the state of emergency.

Two prisoners have been identified as allegedly responsible for inciting the riot and have been placed under the custody of the Ecuadorian Justice system to be prosecuted for the crime of terrorism. Relatives of the inmates gathered outside the prison, demanding information and protesting against