Military and police fight back to try to regain control from crime gangs in Ecuador unrest

Police with detainees in Guayaquil, Ecuador, after the on-air storming of a TV station. Photo: Getty

Alexandra Valencia

Military and police operations took place around Ecuador yesterday in response to a wave of violence and the detention of nearly 180 prison staff by inmates, with the government pledging to wage war on crime gangs they blame for the unrest.

The dramatic spike in violence this week – including the on-air storming of a TV station, unexplained explosions in a variety of cities, and the kidnapping of police officers – appears to be a response to plans by new President Daniel Noboa to tackle a dire security situation.