Ecuador. The terrorists sent journalists flash drives. They exploded when connected to a computer

Ecuadorian police are investigating after exploding flash drives were sent to editorial offices in two cities in the country. One of the journalists who decided to check the contents of the flash drive was injured.

Flash drives – bombs have been sent to journalists in Ecuador

According to the British, based on information provided by the Ecuadorian police, the injured journalist is Lenin Artieda, working at the Ecuadorian TV station Ecuavisa. The man reported minor injuries to his hand and face when a flash drive exploded at the station’s headquarters.

The police initially determined that inside the casing of the memory stick there was probably a highly explosive RDX (hexogen) material. The bomb fuse was activated by an electrical impulse when the device was plugged into a computer’s USB port. Fortunately, only half of the charge inside exploded, leaving the journalist only slightly injured.

As the head of the police investigation department said during the press conference, the journalist received a flash drive in a package that was sent to the editorial office. Police in the South American country tracked down four other envelopes that were sent to the media in Ecuador’s two largest cities – Quito and Guayaquil.

Each package contained a flash drive and a threatening letter. The police – after examining the first two devices – confirmed that they contained explosives. Ecuador’s Attorney General’s Office has launched an investigation into the incident, accusing terrorists of the attacks.

As The Register reminds us, Ecuador is struggling with a wave of violence from gangs and drug cartels. It is suspected that the attack was intended to intimidate the media in the country. The Fundamedios (free speech) organization called on the authorities to punish those responsible and ensure the safety of Ecuadorian journalists.