Prisoners Take Hostages of Over 50 Guards and Police in Ecuador

In six prisons across Ecuador, inmates have taken more than 50 prison guards and police officers hostage. This information has been reported by the TASS agency, as confirmed by the agency responsible for the enforcement of sentences for adult and juvenile offenders.

“We inform the public that as of August 31st at 18:00, 7 police officers and 50 employees of the prison security and monitoring service are being held in detention facilities,” the agency stated in its announcement.

According to the service, the hostages were taken by “members of criminal groups” in retaliation for the confiscation of contraband items by law enforcement in the prisons.

The agency also reported an attempt at a riot in the juvenile detention facility in Quito. A fire broke out in the correctional center due to the actions of the criminals, but there are no reports of injuries.

In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in crime in Ecuador. In July, authorities declared a state of emergency in all prisons for 60 days due to several riots that erupted simultaneously. A nationwide state of emergency was declared on August 10 in response to the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.