US EditionInmates in 3 Guatemalan prisons hold dozens of guards hostage
- On Jan 17, inmates at Renovación I, Preventivo and Frajanes prisons rioted and took at least 46 hostages, mostly guards and one psychologist.
- Moves to transfer and isolate gang leaders preceded the coordinated riots, with authorities reporting the unrest followed transfers to maximum-security custody and identifying Barrio 18 gang members.
- Videos and photos showed masked prisoners perched in patrol towers amid small fires, while firefighters and ambulances were dispatched and National Police and army secured perimeters.
- Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda said he would speak but not give in to demands, security forces maintained perimeters, and authorities reported no hostages killed while another report said one guard was shot.
- Guatemala has struggled to control its prison population in recent years amid rampant gang influence, and an October prison escape of 20 Barrio 18 leaders triggered resignations and a national crisis.
196 Articles
196 Articles
der Standard AT
der Standard DEThree detention centres are again under the control of the security authorities. Prisoners had previously taken about 40 hostages. Eight policemen were killed.
The Guatemalan president declared a 30-day state of emergency to crack down on criminal gangs following riots, hostage-taking in three prisons, and the killing of eight police officers in retaliation for government actions.
On Saturday, inmates seized power in three men's prisons by taking at least 40 guards hostage.
Guatemala declares 30-day nationwide state of siege after deadly attacks on police
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo has declared a nationwide state of siege for 30 days following a wave of coordinated attacks against the country's National Civil Police, which left at least seven officers dead, authorities said Sunday.
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