After videos and photographs of an alleged robbery attempt at an electrical appliance store in the Mall del Sol shopping center, north of Guayaquil, went viral on Friday afternoon, at night the National Police ruled out this situation and clarified what in reality happened.
Major Washington Orquera, deputy head of the Zone 8 Anti-Drug Headquarters, explained that at approximately 5:30 p.m. agents of the Anti-Drug Headquarters, who were carrying out investigative tasks, carried out two operational actions related to the trafficking of illicit substances.
Attempted robbery in an electrical appliance store alarmed in a shopping center in the north of Guayaquil
“It was learned that a crime related to the illegal possession and carrying of controlled narcotic substances was going to be carried out inside the Mall del Sol, which is why, in that place, in the Mall del Sol parking lot, they carried out corresponding searches to prevent the commission of this crime,” explained Orquera.
The officer announced that searches will continue to be carried out to prevent drug-related crimes from occurring.
In the face of a video circulating on social networks about an alleged robbery attempt at the “Mall del Sol” shopping center, WE CLARIFY that these were investigative follow-up and verification actions carried out by personnel from our institution. 👇 pic.twitter.com/eyR0uyWKbq
— @PoliceDMGZona8 (@PoliceDMGZona8) December 10, 2022
The Mall del Sol administration also issued a statement, at 8:23 p.m. on Friday, detailing what happened inside its facilities and denying that there were shots.
According to the statement, a subject entered the shopping center “in an uncontrolled manner and shouting, which caused alarm among visitors.”
However, the situation did not escalate and members of the establishment’s private security and the Police intervened.
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“We must clarify to the public that there were no shots in the shopping center, the noise generated was due to the fall of a glass partition from a store,” the text posted on Mall del Sol’s social networks described.
In addition, it reaffirms the commitment to safeguard the safety of visitors and that they will continue to collaborate with the Police investigations.
The people who were present when the alarm was generated, and thought it was an assault with firearms, experienced moments of panic.
In the recordings circulating on the Internet, dozens of visitors can be seen running through the corridors, trying to leave the establishment, seeking refuge.
Likewise, several uniformed police officers are observed inside and outside the facilities. Meanwhile, people speculated about what happened. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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