armed men burst into the set of public television live

They took journalists and other employees hostage on Tuesday evening, according to images broadcast live by the channel.

Latest and spectacular episode of an unprecedented security crisis in Ecuador, dArmed men burst into the set of a public television (TC) in Guayaquil (Ecuador) on Tuesday, January 9, taking journalists and other employees hostage, according to images broadcast live by this channel. “Don’t shoot, please don’t shoot!”shouts a woman amid the gunfire, while the attackers, armed with pistols, shotguns and some with homemade grenades, hit and force the terrified people to the ground.

One of them is hooded, others wear hoods and caps. Still others have their faces uncovered or film themselves with their cell phones. Several of them make the usual signs with their fingers of recognition of the criminal gangs linked to drug trafficking, which are causing a reign of terror in Ecuador. “They came in to kill us, my God protect us”, sent one of the captive journalists to an AFP correspondent, in a WhatsApp message. Complaints are audible in the background.

Escape of a powerful gangster

Amidst the gunfire, the broadcast of these surreal images continues live for several minutes, despite the lights on the set going out and the camera freezing. Until apparently the intervention of the police with cries of “Police, police”. “National police units (…) have been alerted of this criminal act and are already on the scene”the police said in a message to the press.

The President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, declared his country in a state of “internal armed conflict” and ordered the “neutralization” criminal groups involved in drug trafficking, according to a decree made public Tuesday. In this country, a serious security crisis began on Sunday with the spectacular escape of Adolfo Macias, alias “Fito”, the leader of the “Choneros”. A gang of around 8,000 men, according to experts, has become the main player in Ecuador’s thriving drug trade. His escape was followed by several mutinies and hostage-taking of guards in various prisons.