At least seven police officers were killed in coordinated gang attacks across Guatemala after security forces regained control of a rioting prison and captured a top gang leader.
Police in Guatemala faced a wave of violence on Sunday following the retaking of the Renovación 1 maximum-security prison near Escuintla. Security forces arrested Aldo Duppie, also known as “El Lobo,” a senior figure in the Barrio 18 gang, while 37 hostages remained held in two other prisons.
Volunteer firefighters reported that two officers were killed by high-caliber gunfire outside the Justice Center in Villa Nueva, with rescue workers attempting CPR as police secured the area. Additional attacks in Chinautla and San Pedro Ayampuc left several officers wounded.
Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda said the attacks occurred in and around Guatemala City, bringing the total police deaths to seven and injuring ten others. One gang member was also killed.
Authorities confirmed at least ten separate attacks on police stations and officers on Sunday, resulting in five arrests. In response, the government suspended schools nationwide on Monday and canceled recreational and cultural events in the capital.
Villeda said joint operations with the army would be launched to secure urban areas and stressed that the government would make no agreements with gangs. Police Director David Custodio Boteo added that security for officers and stations would be increased and encouraged unity among police forces.
Hundreds of officers had earlier swept into Renovación 1 to free hostages taken during Saturday’s riots, subduing Duppie in the process. The unrest reflects the ongoing threat posed by organized crime in Guatemala, where gang violence remains a major challenge to public security.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 30 May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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