Guatemala declares state of emergency after eight police officers killed in prison gang violence

"Guatemala's president has declared a 30-day nationwide state of emergency to combat criminal gangs after authorities accused them of killing eight police officers and holding hostages at three prisons. The killings occurred in the capital, Guatemal City, and surrounding areas a day after gang-affiliated inmates took 46 people hostage in the three prisons across the country to demand incarcerated gang leaders be moved to lower-security facilities."

"President Bernardo Arevalo said authorities had retaken control of all three prisons on Sunday. Hours earlier, police announced the deaths of eight officers in the line of duty at the hands of criminals. The interior minister, Marco Antonio Villeda, told a news conference that the killings were carried out by these terrorists, in response to the actions the Guatemalan state is taking against them. Ten other police officers were wounded in the retaliatory attacks, and one suspected gang member was killed, he said."

"On Sunday evening, Arevalo decreed the 30-day nationwide state of emergency to combat the gangs. The measure, which must be approved by the opposition-controlled Congress, suspends the right of assembly and permits individuals to be arrested and interrogated without a court order. The opposition leader, Luis Contreras, who is president of Congress, called for unity to face one of the most painful and challenging moments in the country's history."

President Bernardo Arevalo declared a 30-day nationwide state of emergency to combat criminal gangs after authorities said gangs killed eight police officers and held hostages at three prisons. Gang-affiliated inmates took 46 people hostage to demand that incarcerated gang leaders be moved to lower-security facilities. Authorities retook control of all three prisons, including Renovacion I maximum-security prison, freeing guards held hostage. Ten police officers were wounded and one suspected gang member was killed in retaliatory attacks. The emergency suspends the right of assembly and allows arrests and interrogations without court orders pending congressional approval. The US embassy advised personnel to shelter and schools were closed.

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