Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has been shot and killed by an unidentified gunman whereas at a political rally in Quito.
The killing comes amid an alarming wave of violence within the nation, with drug trafficking and violent killings on the rise.
Incumbent president, Guillermo Lasso, urged an organised crime gang was behind the killing.
Mr Villavicencio was one among eight candidates within the 20 August presidential vote, although not the frontrunner.
“I guarantee you that this crime is not going to go unpunished,” Mr Lasso mentioned in an announcement.
“Organised crime has gone too far, however they may really feel the complete weight of the legislation.”
Ecuador’s legal professional basic’s workplace mentioned a suspect within the assassination died of wounds after being arrested by authorities.
Movies on social media seem to point out the candidate strolling out of the occasion surrounded by guards.
They then present Villavicencio coming into a white truck adopted by gunfire, data that was confirmed by Patricio Zuquilanda, Mr Villavicencio’s marketing campaign adviser.
Mr Zuquilanda mentioned the candidate had acquired demise threats earlier than the capturing, which he had reported to authorities and resulted in a single detention.
He referred to as on worldwide authorities to take motion towards the violence, attributing it to drug trafficking.
“The Ecuadorian individuals are crying and Ecuador is mortally wounded,” he mentioned.
“Politics can not result in the demise of any member of society.”
Police confirmed that a number of others had been injured, together with officers, describing the incident as a terrorist act and promising to resolve the killing.
The politician, 59, was the candidate for the Construct Ecuador Motion.
He was one of the important voices towards corruption, particularly throughout the federal government of former president Rafael Correa from 2007 to 2017.
He filed many judicial complaints towards excessive rating members of the Correa authorities.
He was married and is survived by 5 youngsters