Hostage crisis at Ecuadorian TV station ends
Ecuadorian police have rescued all hostages captured by armed gangs inside a TV station in Guayaquil Read Full Article at RT.com
Security officials have freed employees who were held at gunpoint by criminal gangs
The hostage crisis at a TV station in Ecuador’s largest city, Guayaquil, has ended with all assailants detained and captives rescued, national police chief Cesar Augusto Zapata Correa announced on Tuesday evening.
Masked gunmen invaded the headquarters of TC Television earlier that day, interrupting a live broadcast and taking journalists and other employees captive. The assault took place amid the national emergency declared by President Daniel Noboa in response to prison riots and attacks by gang members that swept the country on Tuesday.
Heavily armed security forces quickly arrived at the scene and entered the TV station building, detaining 13 assailants and recovering “weapons, explosives and other evidence,” Zapata Correa said. He added that all hostages were freed. He did not report any casualties.
El operativo policial en @tctelevision dejó 13 aprehendidos, armas, explosivos y otros indicios.
— GraD. César Augusto Zapata Correa (@CmdtPoliciaEc) January 9, 2024
Se liberaron a los rehenes y se puso a buen recaudo a los trabajadores.
Los causantes serán puestos ante la justicia para que sean sancionados por los actos terroristas. pic.twitter.com/9KEXWvDfzZ
“The perpetrators will be brought to justice in order to be punished for their terrorist acts,” the police chief wrote on X (formerly Twitter), vowing that law enforcement “will not allow violent actions to threaten order and peace.”
READ MORE: Ecuadorian TV crew taken hostage as camera rolls (VIDEO)
A video posted to social media shows police escorting detainees out of the building.
The freed employees were filmed hugging their loved ones and praying outside the TV headquarters.