The President of Guatemala, Bernardo Arevalo, declared a state of siege across the entire territory of the country, following attacks by gangs that killed eight police officers and took control of the prisons.

This measure, which will last 30 days, suspends certain constitutional guarantees, such as the right to assembly, and allows arrests without a judicial warrant. Bernardo Arevalo emphasized that the police have regained control over the prisons where gang members took 46 people hostage. The Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha gangs, considered terrorist, extort the population and fight for territorial control. These measures must be ratified by Parliament, where the opposition holds the majority.