Crisis in Ecuador LIVE: Takeover of TV headquarters, entry to the University of Guayaquil and other events

In December 2023, a United Nations report revealed that Ecuador hit rock bottom last year and ended with a violent death rate of more than 40 per 100,000 inhabitants, making it the most violent country in Latin America. And in Ecuador almost every hour a person dies in a context of criminal violence, indicated the UN. (Full note: Ecuador, the most violent country in Latin America: a person dies almost every hour)

10:19 PM EIGHT DEAD AND TWO INJURED IN ATTACKS IN GUAYAQUIL

At least eight people died and two others were injured in several armed attacks recorded today in various parts of the coastal city of Guayaquil, confirmed the mayor, Aquiles Álvarez, shortly after a heavily armed group occupied the facilities of the TC Television channel and take the employees hostage.

The police managed to recover the facilities and arrested thirteen people, but in other parts of the city violent events occurred that resulted in the death of eight people.

In the north of the capital, several individuals shot at vehicles passing near them, causing the death of five people and wounding a student from a school in the area. Nearby, an armed group broke into a spare parts warehouse and murdered three people. (Source: EFE)

10:05 PM ARMED FORCES WILL NOT NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS

The head of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Ecuador, Jaime Vela, assured that they will not retreat or negotiate with groups that intend to instill terror in the population, at the end of the Security Council, which was chaired by the Ecuadorian president. Daniel Noboa.

Ecuador is experiencing moments of great tension after the raid by an armed commando on TC Televisión in Guayaquil, which ended with the arrest of at least thirteen criminals and the release of the channel’s staff. (Source: EFE).

9:57 PM AMNESTY IS GUARANTEED TO POLICE AND MILITARY

The National Assembly of Ecuador today issued a public declaration of support for the country’s Armed and Security Forces, after President Noboa declared the situation of “internal armed conflict”

“We express our support to the Armed Forces, National Police and all officials in charge of complying with and enforcing the Constitution and the law. This support includes the adoption of pardons and/or amnesties in cases that are necessary to guarantee the work of these entities,” legislators anticipate. (Source: EFE)

08:54 PM ANIDNA COMMUNITY REJECTS ACTS OF VIOLENCE

The General Secretariat of the Andean Community expressed its deepest rejection of the acts of violence carried out by criminal groups in Ecuador, a member country of said organization.

Besides, reaffirmed its willingness to facilitate coordination between its member countries to confront problems such as organized crime in order to “reaffirm the rule of law, the protection of the rights and well-being of Andean citizens”.

7:56 PM US OFFERS ASSISTANCE TO ECUADOR

This Tuesday, the United States offered assistance to Ecuador in the face of the wave of violence that the country is suffering and that has led the Ecuadorian president, Daniel Noboa, to declare a “internal armed conflict” with organized crime.

”We are in close coordination with President Noboa and the Ecuadorian Government, and we are ready to provide assistance”said a spokesperson for the US State Department. (Source: EFE)

7:18 PM EMERGENCY DECLARED ON THE NORTHERN BORDER OF PERU

Given the insecurity crisis that is being experienced in Ecuador, the Chief of Staff, Alberto Otárola, announced that the entire northern border of the country will be declared an emergency in order to prevent the entry of criminal gangs into the country.

“The entire northern border of the country, which covers both Tumbes and Piura, as well as Amazonas Cajamarca and Loreto, will be declared an emergency,” Otárola told the press, after explaining that the Armed Forces will go to the border in support of the National Police. (Full note: Alberto Otárola announces the declaration of emergency for the entire northern border of the country)

6:35 PM PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT SENDS DIROES CONTINGENT TO THE BORDER

Given the insecurity crisis in Ecuador, the government of Peru has already adopted some measures to prevent the entry of criminal gangs into the country.

The Minister of the Interior, Víctor Torres Falcón, reported that the immediate dispatch of a contingent from the Directorate of Special Operations (Diroes) of the National Police of Peru has already been arranged to reinforce security on the border line with the northern country. (Full note: Government sends a Diroes contingent to the border with Ecuador to reinforce security)

6:30 PM STATEMENTS BY RAFAEL CORREA

Former Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa offered his support to President Daniel Noboa, given the day of terror that the country has experienced by criminal groups that have set vehicles on fire, kidnapped agents and even occupied a television channel with weapons. (Full note: Rafael Correa offers support to Noboa and suggests more police on the streets of Ecuador)

5:48 PM PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS ACTS OF VIOLENCE

Through a statement from the Foreign Ministry, the Peruvian Government showed its support for the Ecuadorian president.

“The Government of Peru strongly condemns the acts of violence that occurred today in Ecuador, which violate the fundamental rights of Ecuadorians and threaten the security of that brother country. The Government of Peru expresses its support for the Government of Mr. President Daniel Noboa and to democratic institutions and stability in Ecuador, wishing for a prompt restoration of peace and security in said country. “Peru expresses its solidarity with the victims of these acts of violence.”, reads the statement. (Full note: Peruvian government condemns acts of violence that occurred in Ecuador and supports Daniel Noboa).

5:35 PM CHAOTIC RETURN OF CITIZENS

The return of citizens to their homes became chaotic in cities such as Quito and Guayaquil, after a day of terror experienced this Tuesday in Ecuador, besieged by organized crime groups that reacted with violence to the state of emergency decree issued on Monday by the Government .

Officials at the Carondelet Palace, the seat of Government, in the historic center of Quito, and other State institutions were evacuated for safety, while several universities and businesses closed their doors out of fear.

4:56 PM POLICE RELEASES HELD ON TV CHANNEL

Agents of the National Police of Ecuador have entered the facilities of the TC Televisión channel hours after being assaulted by a group of heavily armed men who interrupted live programming, threatening the employees with rifles, grenades and explosives, and detained the at least thirteen people.

The elite police forces managed to free all the hostages, who are safe and sound, except for two employees who suffered minor injuries and are being treated at a hospital, and have deployed a strong operation in the vicinity of the canal, with the help of Army troops, after President Daniel Noboa declared “internal armed conflict”.

The commander of the Ecuadorian police reports that all “13 kidnappers who entered the canal were arrested.”

4:25 PM SUSPENSION OF CLASSES

The Government of Ecuador suspended face-to-face classes throughout the country on Tuesday until January 12, in the midst of a violent day at the hands of organized crime groups, who have set vehicles on fire, kidnapped police officers and entered a television channel. in the port city of Guayaquil.

The Ministry of Education reported that “the change to the Non-Personal modality is provided throughout the National Educational System”, which includes state, municipal and private schools. In addition, he noted in a statement that “the modality of telecommuting to all personnel who work in the national educational system.”

4:15 PM CRISIS DUE TO NARCO ATTACK

Kidnappings of police officers, two drug lords who escaped from prison, riots in prisons and attacks with explosives in the streets: drug trafficking challenges the president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, in his first crisis after assuming power in November. (Full note: President of Ecuador faces his first crisis due to drug attacks).

3:56 PM TAKEOVER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GUAYAQUIL

The University of Guayaquil Ecuador reported that the suspension of his academic activities, after armed individuals entered their facilities and threatened to take students and teachers hostage. (Full note: Criminals enter the University of Guayaquil and try to kidnap people).

3:51 PM DANIEL NOBOA DECLARE INTERNAL ARMED CONFLICT

The president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, recognized in a decree the existence of a “internal armed conflict“in the country and ordered the Armed Forces to carry out military actions”under international humanitarian law and respecting human rights”. Full note: President of Ecuador declares internal armed conflict and calls for military action

3:30 PM TV CHANNEL TAKEOVER

Hooded armed men entered the TC television channel this Tuesday, in the city of Guayaquil in southwestern Ecuador, and subdued its staff during a live broadcast. (Full note: Ecuador: hooded armed men take over a television channel in live broadcast).