Amid a surge of violence across Ecuador, armed individuals with explosives forcefully entered a TV station during a live broadcast. In response, President Daniel Noboa designated 22 gangs as terrorist organizations, initiating military efforts to apprehend them.
Police arrested the 13 men who burst into TC’s studio during a live broadcast, while elsewhere at least seven police officers were kidnapped and there were several explosions.
“Thank God, we are alive, because it was an extremely violent attack,” said Jorge Rendon, deputy director of the news program that was interrupted.
Noboa, who took office in November promising to stem drug-related violence, declared a 60-day state of emergency on Monday in response to prison violence – including hostage-takings of guards by inmates – and the apparent escape of Los Choneros gang leader Adolfo Macias over the weekend.
In a revised decree on Tuesday, Noboa recognized an “internal armed conflict” and identified nearly two dozen gangs as terrorist groups, including Los Choneros.
The government has said the violence is a reaction to Noboa’s plan to build a new high security prison and transfer jailed gang leaders. “They have created a wave of violence to frighten the populace,” said Admiral Jaime Vela, head of the joint command of the armed forces, adding that the decree made the gangs military targets.
Prison transfers of gang leaders have historically led to violence, with hundreds of inmates killed in recent years. Gang wars over lucrative cocaine smuggling routes have also fuelled the instability.
Peru declared an emergency along its border with Ecuador, while other South American nations Brazil, Colombia and Chile all expressed support for Noboa’s government, and China closed its embassy and consulates until further notice.
The takeover of TC’s studio in Guayaquil was broadcast for about 20 minutes. Men wearing balaclavas and mostly dressed in black wielded guns and accosted staffers huddling on the floor.
Gunshots and yelling were heard and some of the invaders gestured at the camera.
“They shot one of our cameramen in the leg, broke the arm of another one. They fired bullets,” added the broadcaster’s Rendon. “The police came in minutes, surrounded the TV station and the tactical units intervened.”
TC, which broadcasts nationally, shares a site with another public broadcaster, Gamavision, and several radio stations.
The attackers entered through Gamavision’s reception, assaulting staff there and leaving dynamite behind, TC news coordinator and reporter Leonardo Flores Moreno told Reuters, saying he and others in a meeting were able to hide.
