11/28/22, 5:14 PM Ecuador gangs: Gunmen storm hospital in attempt to kill teen - BBC News

Menu

World Africa Asia Australia Europe Latin America Middle East US & Canada

ADVERTISEMENT

Ecuador gangs: Gunmen storm hospital in attempt

to kill teen
4 hours ago

POLICÍA ECUADOR

The arrest of gang members who took hostages after storming a hospital in Ecuador was shared on social media

By Mattea Bubalo
BBC News

Police in Ecuador have arrested seven gunmen who stormed a hospital in an

attempt to kill a teen being treated there.

Gang members took nurses hostage and exchanged fire with police before
they were detained.

All hostages were freed and no one was injured, officials said.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63778819 1/12
11/28/22, 5:14 PM Ecuador gangs: Gunmen storm hospital in attempt to kill teen - BBC News
The 17-year-old target of the attack, known as "Dirty Face", is thought to be a
rival gang member who is in intensive care recovering from bullet wounds.

The gunmen held five staff members hostage for more than an hour, one
employee told local newspaper El Diario.

Video circulating on social media appears to show balaclava-clad men holding

guns and briefly shoving a screaming woman through one of the hospital's exit
doors before dragging her back into the building.

Other hospital employees at the hospital in the town of Chone, in western

Ecuador, said they had locked themselves in rooms while the gunmen broke
down doors in search for the teenager.

"They didn't know the hospital layout, it seems, and that's why these
delinquents were roaming through the entire hospital," Homero Andrade, who
represents employees at the hospital, told El Diario.

"Thanks to God and to the police we're still here to tell the tale," Mr Andrade
said.

Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso also thanked the police, saying that their
intervention had saved lives.

The president shared footage on Twitter showing armed officers poised to

enter the building ahead of the arrests.

Guillermo Lasso
@LassoGuillermo · Follow

Debo destacar el notable trabajo de la @PoliciaEcuador

en el Hospital Napoleón Dávila de Chone. Su
intervención logró detener a los 7 delincuentes, liberar
4 rehenes y salvar vidas. Esas son nuestras fuerzas del
orden: listas para defender a la ciudadanía. Situación
bajo control.

Watch on Twitter

4:21 AM · Nov 28, 2022

Read the full conversation on Twitter

3.3K Reply Share

Read 789 replies

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63778819 2/12
11/28/22, 5:14 PM Ecuador gangs: Gunmen storm hospital in attempt to kill teen - BBC News
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

View original tweet on Twitter

Gang violence in Ecuador has grown sharply in recent years, including

gruesome tactics such as decapitations, and there has been a series of deadly
prison riots.

Analysts think that this spike in violence is partly due to violent Mexican
cartels expanding to Ecuador where they recruit local gangs to smuggle
cocaine.

President Lasso has declared a state of emergency multiple times since he

took office last year, in an attempt to tackle the sharp rise in violence.

In early November, he said attacks by increasingly powerful drug gangs were a

declaration of war.

More on this story

Ecuador crackdown after five police officers killed

2 November

Inmates killed in latest Ecuador prison gang fight

4 October

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63778819 3/12
11/28/22, 5:14 PM Ecuador gangs: Gunmen storm hospital in attempt to kill teen - BBC News

Police lose control of Ecuador town

22 June

Ecuador declares emergency over gang crime

30 April

Related Topics

Gangs Ecuador

Recommendations by Taboola

BBC
BBC
The simple tricks for having a really
Was the Azores home to an ancient civilisation? good argument

BBC
The farming revolution that will save
our food

BBC
The island that switches nationality
every six months - BBC Reel

Karan Soni jailed for killing man in Luton who robbed him
Karan Soni was driving a car that crushed a man who had just robbed him of cash and drugs.

ADVERTISEMENT
How are Amazon shoppers saving money? Read this
Capital One Shopping | ADVERTISEMENT Read More

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63778819 4/12
11/28/22, 5:14 PM Ecuador gangs: Gunmen storm hospital in attempt to kill teen - BBC News

ADVERTISEMENT
Holiday shopping on a budget? This hack can help you save!
Capital One Shopping | ADVERTISEMENT Read More

BBC

Barnsley paedophile's Kos trip completely unacceptable - MP

BBC

Megan Newborough: Man in 'volcano' rage as he killed woman, jury told

Paid and presented by Thailand Board of Investment

Easing the expat experience: New visa makes Thailand more business-friendly
The long-term resident visa makes living, working and doing business in Thailand easier than ever.

Man found dead in Wigan shot and attacked with acid

Liam Smith's body was dumped in a street covered in “potentially hazardous” substances, police say.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63778819 5/12
11/28/22, 5:14 PM Ecuador gangs: Gunmen storm hospital in attempt to kill teen - BBC News

BBC

Woman stabbed in head in Birmingham kitchen row, court hears

BBC

Gang members who stole up to 100 cars jailed

BBC

Judge condemns racist abuse faced by Bayoh family

BBC

Cheltenham driving instructor avoids jail for molesting pupil

BBC

Poole: Cyclist caused fatal motorcycle accident and fined

Garry Kopanycia-Reynolds was fined £2,500 after Callum Clements died in a crash last December.

BBC

Zimbabwe without Robert Mugabe: What has changed?

BBC

South African court orders release of Chris Hani's killer Janusz Walus

Woman with Down's syndrome loses abortion law appeal

Campaigner Heidi Crowter says she will keep fighting and take her case to the Supreme Court.

BBC

Bridgend: Three arrested after two dead babies found

BBC

Portsmouth dockers walk free after £118m cocaine haul trial

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63778819 6/12
11/28/22, 5:14 PM Ecuador gangs: Gunmen storm hospital in attempt to kill teen - BBC News

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63778819 7/12
11/28/22, 5:14 PM Ecuador gangs: Gunmen storm hospital in attempt to kill teen - BBC News

Top Stories

LIVE Security tightened in China after widespread Covid protests

Blank paper becomes the symbol of China's protests

3 hours ago

Police in Europe take down cocaine 'super cartel'

1 hour ago

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63778819 8/12
11/28/22, 5:14 PM Ecuador gangs: Gunmen storm hospital in attempt to kill teen - BBC News

ADVERTISEMENT

Features

Blank paper becomes the symbol of China's protests China's fury and fear of Covid puts Xi in a bind

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63778819 9/12
11/28/22, 5:14 PM Ecuador gangs: Gunmen storm hospital in attempt to kill teen - BBC News

Fortune givers: On hunt for a British Jeff Bezos Cara Delevingne: ‘Being queer felt fluid and free’

Rolls-Royce tests a jet engine running on hydrogen The controversy around India’s ‘Muslim’ museum

The ancient 'power couple' who changed the world How do the Fifa World Cup tables look?

Monday's name the World Cup player quiz

Elsewhere on the BBC

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63778819 10/12
11/28/22, 5:14 PM Ecuador gangs: Gunmen storm hospital in attempt to kill teen - BBC News

Is this the greatest taboo of all? 'I regret the role, not my daughter'

Artemis I: The giant rocket setting new records

Most Read

1 Gunmen storm Ecuador hospital in attempt to kill teen

2 Kim Kardashian 'shaken' by Balenciaga teddy shoot

3 World's largest active volcano erupts in Hawaii

4 Dua Lipa is granted Albanian citizenship

5 Monkeypox given new name by global health experts

6 Iranian rapper could face death penalty

7 Blank paper becomes the symbol of China's protests

8 Daughter barred from watching father's execution

9 Colorado attack hero: 'Bullies aren't invincible'

10 Bob Dylan apologises for printed 'signatures'

BBC News Services

On your mobile

On smart speakers
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63778819 11/12
11/28/22, 5:14 PM Ecuador gangs: Gunmen storm hospital in attempt to kill teen - BBC News
p

Get news alerts

Contact BBC News

Home Sport Worklife Future Music Weather

News Reel Travel Culture TV Sounds

Terms of Use About the BBC Privacy Policy Cookies Accessibility Help Parental Guidance Contact the BBC

Get Personalised Newsletters Why you can trust the BBC Advertise with us AdChoices / Do Not Sell My Info

© 2022 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63778819 12/12