Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – Riots broke out in three Guatemalan prisons on the 17th, followed by multiple attacks in Guatemala City and surrounding areas on the 18th, resulting in the deaths of at least seven police officers.
According to Reuters and the Associated Press, large-scale riots occurred in three Guatemalan prisons on the 17th, with prisoners taking dozens of prison guards hostage, demanding that prison authorities grant more privileges to gang leaders within the prisons.
On the 18th, the Guatemalan National Police announced that it had regained control of one of the prisons where the riots occurred and had detained a gang leader currently serving a sentence. Attacks targeting police occurred in Guatemala City and surrounding areas that day.
Al Jazeera reported that Guatemalan Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda said in an interview on the 18th that the series of attacks had resulted in the deaths of seven police officers and one gang member, with ten other police officers injured. He emphasized that the police would conduct joint operations with the military and would not negotiate with the gangs.
Reuters reported that, due to the incident, Guatemala City cancelled cultural and entertainment events scheduled for the 18th, the Guatemalan Ministry of Education announced the closure of all educational institutions nationwide on the 19th, and police urged residents to remain at home to prevent gang attacks on civilians. (End)
