Chaos and terror erupted on live television Tuesday morning when over a dozen heavily armed, masked men stormed Ecuadors TC Television studio in Guayaquil. The brazen attack occurred mid-broadcast, with the assailants brandishing pistols and explosives on set, threatening to detonate bombs.Terrified staff held hostage on-air The unexpected invasion immediately disrupted TC Televisions news program, sending staff fleeing for their lives while thousands watched the dramatic incident unfold in their living rooms. “I was in the control room when they burst in. One man put a gun to my head and told me to get down,” recounted a distraught Alina Manrique, the stations head of news. Sounds resembling gunfire rang out as the infiltrators asserted their control of the studio.15 minute siege ends with 13 arrestsAlthough the studios transmission was abruptly terminated after some 15 harrowing minutes, the assault continued off-screen.“They started running and hiding when they realized police had surrounded them,” described Manrique, still in shock from the ordeal.Eventually, all 13 attackers were apprehended and detained. Miraculously, despite the overt violence, there were no resulting casualties from the otherwise terrifying raid.On TV channel live pic.twitter.com/lRZ2aa0N0G— حـكــيــــم (@hakimjustice_) January 9, 2024Violence follows shocking prison breaksWhile the criminal affiliation of the television invaders remains unconfirmed, authorities have noted that the incident follows shocking recent prison escapes of notorious gang lords locked up for horrendous crimes like drug trafficking, murder and organized crime. The chaos also comes alongside an unsettling spate of violence targeting Ecuadorian law enforcement, judges and government institutions.President declares Internal Armed Conflict In response to exponentially growing unrest, an embattled President Noboa took drastic action within hours, formally labelling 20 known cartels as terror groups and greenlighting the military to “neutralise” them, ominously warning of an “internal armed conflict” gripping the country. The 13 detained television assailants now face up to 13 years behind bars on terrorism charges alone as Noboa attempts to re-establish order.Gangs battle for drug corridorsSituated between the worlds biggest cocaine sources, Ecuador has become a hotbed for narcotics traffickers and a prime transit route to consumers, making it vulnerable to violent territorial clashes between rival cartels and authorities. To reclaim stability in the face of open drug warfare on the streets and worsening bloodshed, Freeman advises relocating crime bosses abroad while fast-tracking judicial reforms to enable the prosecution of kingpins without jeopardising the rule of law.
