Ecuador’s prison authority, SNAI, said two near-simultaneous prison riots killed eight inmates and injured 10 Thursday, Oct. 22, in Latacunga and Quito, as authorities identified suspected participants for transfer to El Encuentro prison.
SNAI said four people died at each site: Cotopaxi No. 1 in Latacunga and the Pichincha No. 1 prison, called El Inca, in northern Quito. SNAI said the 10 injured people were receiving medical care.
Authorities placed the start of the violence in the afternoon and reported gunfire and disturbances at both facilities. Forensic staff said bodies at El Inca had gunshot and knife wounds. AFP said early accounts suggested that a clash between criminal gangs may have sparked the violence.
SNAI said its security bloc launched efforts to bring both facilities back under control. EFE described the deaths as ending a comparatively long lull in mass prison killings after security interventions under President Daniel Noboa.
Gulf News reported that SNAI had begun security-risk reviews of 9,214 inmates across four provinces days before the riots: Cotopaxi, Azuay, Tungurahua and Chimborazo. The measure was intended to weaken criminal groups in prisons, the outlet reported.
