Guatemala police killings were blamed on gang members after seven officers were shot dead inside and around the capital’s prison facilities, according to the country’s interior minister.
The interior minister of Guatemala accused gangs of murdering seven police officers as retaliation for the government’s refusal to transfer gang leaders to a low‑security prison.
The killings occurred in Guatemala City and nearby areas a day after gang‑affiliated inmates took hostages in three prisons across the country.
Police regained control of one of the prisons yesterday.
Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda described the deaths of the seven National Civil Police officers as tragic, saying they were attacked by what he called “teroristas” (“terrorists”).
Ten other police officers were injured in the incident, while one suspected gang member was killed.
Earlier, police and military forces stormed the Renovacion I maximum‑security prison in Escuintla at dawn, using armored vehicles and tear gas.
Within 15 minutes, authorities regained control of the facility and freed the guards who had been held hostage by gang members.