Prisoners in Guatemala seized at least 46 workers during coordinated riots at three detention centres, authorities say. Officials blamed members of the Barrio 18 gang and reported no deaths or injuries among hostages. Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda has refused to negotiate and President Bernardo Arévalo reiterated efforts to sever the connection between prisons and outside criminal networks following recent escapes.
Guatemala Prison Riots: At Least 46 Workers Held Hostage in Coordinated Attacks
An inmate looks out from a security tower at the Renovacion 1 prison in Escuintla, Guatemala [Josue Decavele/Reuters]
Prisoners in Guatemala seized at least 46 workers during coordinated riots at three detention centres, authorities said. Officials reported the disturbances began on Saturday and were organised by members of the Barrio 18 gang in reaction to moves to strip gang leaders of privileges and to a request by a gang leader for transfer to a facility with better conditions.
Hostages, Response and Conditions
Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda said there were no reported deaths or injuries among the hostages and vowed not to negotiate with what he described as "terrorist groups." Most hostages are prison guards, and a prison official confirmed a psychologist is among those detained. Security forces formed a perimeter at Renovacion 1, a maximum-security prison in Escuintla, while ambulances and firetrucks stood by.
Inmates — some in jumpsuits, many in tank tops and shorts with improvised face coverings — were observed from prison towers. Speaking from behind barbed wire, one masked prisoner said inmates felt unsafe and demanded transfers to other facilities with better conditions.
Wider Context
Guatemala has struggled for years with powerful gangs exerting influence inside prisons and maintaining links to criminal networks outside. In October, President Bernardo Arévalo accepted the resignations of three senior security officials after roughly 20 gang members escaped over several days.
"The link between the prison system and the criminality outside has to be cut," Arévalo told The Associated Press, underscoring the government's push to regain control of the penitentiary system.
Authorities said they would not restore privileges in response to the riots and were continuing operations and investigations. The situation remained fluid as prison officials, security forces and emergency services monitored developments.
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