Guatemalan Authorities Clash with Gangs Amidst Escuintla Prison Riots

Guatemalan security forces were working to regain control of three prisons where inmates, led by the Barrio 18 gang, took 46 hostages demanding better privileges. The government stands firm against yielding to gang demands. The riots underscore vulnerabilities in the Guatemalan prison system.

Guatemalan security forces are currently attempting to regain control of three prisons following an inmate riot that led to the hostage-taking of at least 46 people. Government officials attribute this uprising to the notorious Barrio 18 gang, which seeks better conditions and privileges for its leader.

Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda declared at a press conference that no hostages had suffered injuries thus far. He asserted a staunch position against yielding to gang demands, highlighting efforts to revoke privileges as a catalyst for the riots.

The situation is particularly tense at Escuintla's Renovacion 1 maximum security prison, where security forces maintain a perimeter while inmates, wearing makeshift masks, demand transfers due to security concerns. The scenario reflects ongoing issues within Guatemala's prison system, with more hostages taken now than in prior incidents.