Chaos in Ecuador. The cartels declared war on the police (2 photos + 6 videos)
Armed men burst into the studio of the Ecuadorian television channel TC Television and took the presenters working live hostage. But this is just one episode of the unfolding chaos with mass hostage takings and police shootings. To date, martial law has been declared in the South American country, a curfew has been introduced, and the presence of an internal armed conflict has been recognized. God bless Ecuador! 
Armed men burst into the studio of the Ecuadorian television channel TC Television and took the presenters working live hostage. In the footage of the live broadcast, a group of 8-10 armed men in masks is visible, who, threatening with machine guns, forced the channel’s employees to lie down on the floor, and they themselves began to pose in front of the working television cameras.
While the building was being stormed by police, journalists had a hard time.
The gang that seized the TC Televisión channel published a video with the hostage of the analytical show Después de el noticiero - in the video, Jorge Estevez asks President Daniel Noboa to contact the police and save him along with his colleagues.
The police managed to detain the criminals, the hostages were released, and no injuries were reported:
Meanwhile, another group entered the territory of the University of Guayaquil, began robbing stores and, according to separate reports, is trying to kidnap people. Army units were also sent to the site.
Footage posted online shows frightened students running out of the building. Those who didn’t make it in time barricaded themselves in the office. The police arrived at the scene. No casualties were reported.
It is reported that there are battles between the army and criminal gangs in the metro of Guayaquil in Ecuador. The latter capture and kill hostages on camera:
Bandits also blow up and shoot police officers on the streets of Ecuador.
Armed unrest in Ecuador began on January 8. Riots broke out in prisons across the country amid government actions to reorganize the penitentiary system. During searches in one of the prisons, it became known about the disappearance of a dangerous criminal nicknamed Fito, the leader of the Los Choneros gang. At one time, he was accused of involvement in the murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio and has been under heavy security since the summer.
On Monday, the President of Ecuador declared a state of emergency and curfew in the country to restore order.
In response to the introduction of a state of emergency (and the associated suppression of protests in prisons), gang leaders across the country began to take military personnel and police officers hostage, demanding that the president improve conditions of detention and not use force during arrests - otherwise, threatening to kill the hostages.
After the journalists were taken hostage, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced that the country was in a state of internal armed conflict, and criminal groups were now designated as “terrorist organizations and belligerent non-state actors.” More than 20 criminal groups and organizations have been declared terrorist. The Ecuadorian army has announced mobilization. Martial law has been declared in the country.
The president refused to negotiate with narco-terrorists and said that over three thousand law enforcement officers had already been sent to search for the leader of Los Choneros. They also patrol the streets, trying to establish order, but so far they have not been very successful.
