Over 50 dead and dozens injured in prison riots in Ecuador | Crime News

Officials said gun and knife battles between rival gangs erupted Monday evening in three different prisons across the country.

Prisons in Ecuador were on high alert after more than 50 people were killed and dozens injured in three prison riots, police said on Tuesday.

According to the authorities, riots broke out in prisons located in three cities of Guayaquil, Cuenca and Latacunga. The violence was caused by disputes between rival gangs inside the prisons, officials said. Local media reported that prisoners were killed with guns and knives.

Police Commander-General Patricio Carrillo said on Twitter on Tuesday that additional security forces had been sent to the prison to regain control. Carrillo said the riots involved high security prisoners.

“All prisons right now have restrictions and controls in place,” Carrillo wrote.

INFORMAMOS 🚨

Ante los hechos évitados el día de hoy en los CRS Guayas, Azuay y Cotopaxi @PolicieEcuador se encuentra gestionando el control de los mismos. Al momento Criminalística reporta más de 50 PPL fallecidos.

Seguiremos informando… pic.twitter.com/OTbX3ziazU

– Policía Ecuador (@PoliciaEcuador) February 23, 2021

Translation: Considering the events that took place today in Guayas, Azuay and Cotopaxi @PoliciaEcuador manages the control. At present, there are more than 50 dead. We will continue to inform …

Riots reportedly broke out on Monday evening, after prisoners took prison guards hostage.

Local media reported that several ambulances had been seen leaving the prisons and that, as news of the riots became public, dozens of relatives of prisoners gathered outside the prisons to get more information on this. that was happening.

Images and videos circulating on social media showed inmates gathered on the roof of a prison with police on motorcycles and in patrol cars surrounding the prison.

In a tweet, Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno said gangs had committed “simultaneous acts of violence in several prisons across the country,” and that in coordination with Government Minister Patricio Pazmino Castillo, the police were working to take over. control of prisons.

Organizaciones criminales carry out acciones de violencia simultáneas en varios centros penitenciarios del país. The @PolicieEcuador in coordination with the Ministro de Gobierno, @ppazminoec, están actuando para retomar control de cárceles en Guayaquil, Cuenca y Latacunga. https://t.co/9gdGoWTQHr

– Lenín Moreno (@Lenin) February 23, 2021

Translation: Criminal organizations committed simultaneous acts of violence in several prisons across the country. The @PoliciaEcuador, in coordination with the Minister of the Government, @ ppazminoec, is working to regain control of the prisons of Guayaquil, Cuenca and Latacunga.