Guatemalan inmates take 46 hostages across three prisons during coordinated riots

World News

Guatemalan inmates take 46 hostages across three prisons during coordinated riots

1 hour ago

News sources:

REUTERS

ALJAZEERA

LATIMES

Guatemalan inmates take 46 hostages across three prisons during coordinated riots

Credited from: ALJAZEERA

Inmates in three Guatemalan prisons have taken at least 46 hostages, mostly guards.
Riots are linked to demands for better conditions by gang members, particularly Barrio 18.
No injuries or fatalities have been reported among hostages or inmates.
Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda refuses to negotiate with inmates.
The Guatemalan government aims to regain control of the prison system amid ongoing gang issues.

Inmates at three prisons in Guatemala have taken at least 46 people hostage, primarily prison guards, amid what authorities describe as coordinated riots. This unrest reportedly stems from gang members demanding better conditions, associated with the actions of the notorious Barrio 18 gang, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda confirmed during a news conference that there were no reports of injuries or deaths among the hostages, further stating he would not negotiate with what he termed "terrorist groups," refusing to yield to blackmail from the inmates. "I will not restore their privileges," he asserted, highlighting the seriousness of the situation according to Los Angeles Times and Al Jazeera.

Local security forces, including the police and military, have established a perimeter around the facilities to maintain order and ensure community safety. Previous incidents have seen similar unrest, but the scale of hostages taken this time marks a significant escalation, as reported by Reuters and Los Angeles Times.