Watch Masked Gunmen Enter TV Ecuador Studio During Live Broadcast

A band of masked and armed individuals forcefully took over a live broadcast on Ecuadorean television station TC earlier this week. Just before the transmission ended, they were seen seizing hostages and exiting the premises.

During a live broadcast on TC Television, masked men armed with pistols and explosives stormed the set, causing panic and uncertainty. The intruders shouted that they had bombs, and noises resembling gunshots could be heard in the background. It remains unclear if any station personnel were harmed during the incident.

President Daniel Noboa of Ecuador responded by classifying 22 gangs as terrorist organizations through an official decree. The national police promptly evacuated the studio, ensuring the safety of the staff and restoring order, as reported by Reuters.

As per the footage doing rounds on social media, the assailants compelling people to lie on the floor while using zip-ties.

The Ecuadorian national police confirmed 13 arrests in Guayaquil, as reported by Reuters.

Following the escape of a notorious gang leader, Adolfo Macías Villamar, known as Fito, from prison, Ecuador declared a 60-day state of emergency on Monday.

It remains uncertain whether the TC attack is linked to Fito's disappearance from the Choneros gang.

Ecuador has been grappling with a surge in violence attributed to drug trafficking, resulting in numerous homicides and kidnappings. The recent wave of attacks, including the storming of the TV station, followed the reported escape of a powerful gang leader, Adolfo Macías, alias "Fito," from a low-security prison. Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, and two guards have been charged in connection with the alleged escape.