• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Latin America
  4. 20 dead in Ecuador prison riot
Latin America

20 dead in Ecuador prison riot

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 4 Apr 2022 10:51

The outbreak is the latest in deadly violence in the South American country's correctional facilities.

  • 20 dead in Ecuador prison riot
    Armed police managed to gain control of the Guayaquil prison in 2021 (AP)

According to the President's office, at least 20 people were killed in a jail riot early Sunday in southern Ecuador, the latest outbreak of lethal violence in the South American country's correctional facilities.

President Guillermo Lasso's press office stated that the 20 reported dead in El Turi Prison in Cuenca "have been transferred to the Forensic Center of Cuenca."

According to Interior Minister Patricio Carrillo, five of the prisoners were "mutilated" during the violence.

Ecuador has struggled in recent years to curb gang-related prison violence, with 320 inmates dying in 2021.

Carrillo informed reporters that the violence was gang-related and had been brought "under control" after 800 police officers and 200 members of the armed services were deployed.

He added that although the clashes ended, there are still armed inmates inside the jail. Authorities were evacuating blocs individually so weapons could be confiscated.

"There is an organization that wants to take absolute control inside the center (but) some cells rebelled," he said.

Earlier in the day, Carrillo tweeted that Ecuador needs legal reforms to discipline rioters in prisons.

"We need strong provisions for those that carry out this violence. They are identified and must lose all kinds of prison benefits," he said.

Family members of prisoners were waiting outside the prison while they awaited new developments.

Ecuador's 65 prisons are overpopulated by 30%, and last year, the country saw multiple bloody uprisings. 

Prison rioting killed 79 inmates in February 2021. In September, 119 inmates were slain in one of the deadliest prison massacres in Latin American history at a jail in Guayas, Ecuador's most populated province.

The same Guayas prison had a gang fight that left 62 prisoners dead.

"Latin American prisons have for a long time become a constant threat, but the desire is there and we will take the necessary actions," according to Carrillo.

The country has been shook by an increasing drug war, which has resulted in an increase in the number of gangs vying for control of the illicit but lucrative drug trade.

  • South America
  • Ecuador

Trending Now

All
A car crushed by debris after an earthquake shook Cuenca, Ecuador, on Saturday. (AP)

Magnitude 6.8 earthquake hits Ecuador, at least 14 deaths reported

Most Read

Indonesian president Joko Widodo during an interview in Jakarta in 2016 (Reuters)

Widodo urges Indonesia to abandon Visa, MasterCard to be 'independent'

  • Asia
  • 16 Mar
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen listens to opening remarks before testifying before the Senate Finance Committee about the President's proposed budget request for the fiscal year 2024, Thursday, March 16, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP)

US Debt ceiling ‘must be raised’ ahead of default: Treasury Secretary

  • US & Canada
  • 16 Mar
Rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

Peace rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

  • US & Canada
  • 18 Mar
Poland

Poland may end up 'joining' Ukraine war: Polish Ambassador to France

  • Europe
  • 20 Mar

Read this

All
In this picture released by an official website of the office of the Iranian leader, Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei makes a public address at the northeastern city of Mashhad, Iran, March 21, 2023 (Office of the Iranian leader via AP)
Asia

US sparked Ukraine war to expand NATO: Iranian leader Sayyed Khamenei

  • Today
Iraqi Army M1A1 Abrams tanks, purchased from the US, maneuver during a live fire exercise outside Baghdad, Iraq, October 18, 2011 (AP)
Europe

US expediting delivery of M1A1 Abrams tanks, Patriot system to Ukraine

  • 21 Mar
A general view of the illegal Israeli settlement of 'Efrat' in the occupied West Bank, occupied Palestine, January 30, 2023 (AP)
Palestine

'Israel' repeals law that sanctioned four West Bank settlements

  • 21 Mar
Russia, China sign joint statement on deepening strategic partnership
Europe

Russia, China sign joint statement on deepening strategic partnership

  • 21 Mar
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS