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Wild video emerged on social media Tuesday that showed a group of masked gunmen storming the studio of a public TV network in Ecuador. The gunmen were also equipped with grenades while pointing their weapons at reporters on the set.
The incident comes during a time of unrest in Ecuador after a powerful gang leader escaped prison.
The gunmen remained on camera for approximately 15 minutes and made reporters get to the ground before the live feed from the studio was ultimately cut off.
🚨 #ÚltimaHora Hombres armados y encapuchados toman instalaciones del canal 10 en #Ecuador para dar un pronunciamiento
Sometieron a periodistas y colaboradores pic.twitter.com/1fyp9yyCZt
— Manuel Lopez San Martin (@MLopezSanMartin) January 9, 2024
Ecuador’s national police chief later announced that all of the masked gunmen had been arrested, with police commander Cesar Zapata saying the officers seized guns and explosives from the men.
13 were arrested, according to the Associated Press.
Gunmen storm TV studio to hold presenter hostage as Ecuador descends into armed conflict.
A popular Ecuador TV show descended into chaos as masked gunmen flooded its recording studio and pointed their weapons at a presenter, with a national state of "armed conflict" having been… pic.twitter.com/knGfy6YKZp
— World Times (@WorldTimesWT) January 9, 2024
Adolfo “Fito” Macias, the leader of the Los Choneros gang, escaped prison on Sunday just before he was scheduled to be transferred to a maximum security facility. President Daniel Noboa declared a 60-day state of emergency on Monday following his escape.
Macias is convicted of drug trafficking, murder, and organized crime, and is serving a 34-year sentence.
Since his escape, there has been a series of kidnappings — including the abduction of police officers — and attacks across the country, with the TV studio incident being the latest and most public.
