Ecuadorian authorities say a seventh man accused within the assassination of a presidential candidate in August has been killed inside a jail
Supporters of presidential candidate Luisa Gonzalez, of the Citizen’s Revolutionary Motion, attend a rally downtown in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. Ecuador will maintain a presidential runoff, Oct. 15. (AP Photograph/Rodrigo Abd)
The Related Press
QUITO, Ecuador — A seventh man accused within the August assassination of an Ecuadorian presidential candidate was killed inside a jail in Ecuador’s capital, authorities mentioned Saturday, a day after six others allegedly linked to the crime had been slain in a distinct lockup.
The killing of the seven suspects occurred a little bit greater than per week earlier than Ecuador holds a presidential runoff election and as officers battle to clarify how this was potential.
The jail system mentioned in a press launch that the person killed was being held at a jail in Quito, Ecuador’s capital. It launched no particulars of the way it occurred and recognized him solely “José M.,” with out giving his nationality.
Six Colombian males charged within the Aug. 9 assassination of Fernando Villavicencio had been killed Friday inside a jail in Guayaquil.
President Guillermo Lasso known as an emergency assembly of his safety Cupboard, which determined to maneuver the remaining six suspects within the assassination to a distinct jail, a authorities assertion mentioned. It did not determine the jail to which they had been despatched for safety causes.
The federal government additionally fired the prisons system director and the police chief of investigations, the presidential communication workplace mentioned in a press launch.
The killings got here because the Prosecutor’s Workplace is anticipated to announce quickly the conclusion of the investigation stage into the killing of Villavicencio, who was gunned down whereas leaving a political rally.
The 59-year-old politician had not been thought of among the many front-runners for the election’s first spherical on Aug. 20, however his killing in broad daylight was a surprising reminder of the surge in crime gripping Ecuador. He had reported being threatened by associates of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel, one of many many worldwide organized crime teams working in Ecuador.
Ecuador is holding the runoff presidential election Oct. 15 pitting the 2 high finishers within the August vote — leftist Luisa González and former lawmaker Daniel Noboa, who’s the son of a banana tycoon.
