Jimmy Jairala, former prefect of Guayas province and opposition candidate for president of Ecuador, announced that criminals shot at his car. At the time of the attack, the politician's son was driving along with his partner and friends.
The attack took place on Sunday morning in a residential area of the port city of Guayaquil, the largest and one of the most dangerous in the country. Police Chief Fausto Buenano said six bullets hit the car, three of which hit the driver.
Jimmy Jairala reported the incident on platform He also added several videos showing, among other things, the front doors of the car riddled with bullets.
Award-winning journalist
Jimmy Jairala (born Jaime Antonio Jairala Vallazza) is an award-winning journalist and politician of the social democratic, opposition Democratic Center party. He announced his candidacy in the presidential elections scheduled for 2025, in which he will face, among others, with the current head of state, Daniel Noboa.
The attack on Jairala's car took place during a period of increased crime. Since 2023, several politicians have been murdered in the country. The media reminds us of the high-profile murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, which occurred during the election campaign.
Fighting gangs
Ecuador, until recently considered an oasis of peace, has in recent years become one of the most dangerous countries in the region, which is attributed to the activities of gangs smuggling drugs from South America to USA and Europe.
Noboa declared a state of “internal armed conflict” at the beginning of the year and sent the army to fight gangs that he considered terrorist organizations.
Main photo source: Jimmy Jairala/X