Guatemala declares 30-day state of emergency after gangs kill 8 police officers
The measure, pending approval by the opposition-led Congress, suspends assembly rights and allows arrests without a court order
Guatemala’s president on Sunday declared a 30-day nationwide state of emergency to combat criminal gangs after authorities accused the groups of killing eight police officers and holding hostages at three prisons.
The killings occurred in the Guatemalan capital and surrounding areas a day after gang-affiliated inmates took 46 people hostage in the three prisons across the country to demand incarcerated gang leaders be moved to lower security facilities.
President Bernardo Arevalo said authorities had retaken control of all three prisons on Sunday.
Hours earlier, Guatemala’s police announced the deaths of eight of its officers “in the line of duty at the hands of criminals”.
Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda told a news conference that the killings were carried out “by these terrorists, in response to the actions the Guatemalan state is taking against them.”
Ten other police officers were wounded in the retaliatory attacks, and one suspected gang member was killed, he said.