Guatemala Declares State of Emergency as Prison Riots Kill Police
Guatemala Declares State of Emergency as Prison Riots Kill Police
Guatemala declares a 30-day nationwide state of emergency after prison riots kill police and hostage-taking erupts in three facilities, signaling a tense crackdown on gangs.
Guatemala’s government has declared a 30-day nationwide state of emergency after a wave of gang-linked riots left police battered and three prisons under the control of inmates. The incidents unfolded across the country, including the capital Guatemala City, as authorities fought to regain control of the facilities and protect staff and inmates.
Eight police officers were killed in the violence, with ten more wounded, during dawn operations to retake the prisons. Inmates had seized control of the facilities and kidnapped dozens of people in what authorities described as coordinated attacks.
President Bernardo Arévalo announced the 30-day state of emergency, a move that suspends rights to assembly and allows arrests and detentions without a court order, pending approval by Congress. Schools were closed and the US embassy advised personnel to shelter in place as the crackdown was launched.
Officials said the security operation aimed to dismantle criminal gangs and restore public safety, though analysts warned the move could test civil liberties and provoke political debate about the balance between security and rights. The unfolding crisis underscores Guatemala’s ongoing battle against organized crime and the risks faced by police and civilians alike.
