Footage provided by El Salvador’s Presidency show inmates at the Izalco prison lining up in tight lines during a security operation during the coronavirus pandemic, northwest of San Salvador, Saturday, April 25.
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele late on Friday ordered a 24-hour lockdown of prisons containing gang members, and said their leaders would be sent into solitary confinement after a sudden spike in homicides during the day.
Bukele said the “maximum emergency” lockdown would be enforced while police investigated some 22 homicides reported on Friday.
Only a few years ago, El Salvador, which has long been plagued by powerful street gangs known as maras, had the highest homicide rate in the Americas.
El Salvador has imposed some of the strictest measures in the Americas to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
Riots have broken out at prisons all over the world including in Argentina, Cameroon, and Malawi as the global health crisis exaggerates.
Inmates are protesting hygiene conditions, lack of personal protection equipment and poor cell conditions, while some protested on the roof of prisons.
(Reuters/VOA)
» Subscribe to VOA News: https://bit.ly/3KIPysi
» Watch more VOA News video: https://www.youtube.com/c/VOANews
Voice of America (VOA) is the largest U.S. international broadcaster, providing news and information in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of 236.8 million people. VOA produces content for digital, television, and radio platforms. It is easily accessed via your mobile phone and on social media. It is also distributed by satellite, cable, FM and MW, and is carried on a network of approximately 3,000 affiliate stations.
Since its creation in 1942, Voice of America has been committed to providing comprehensive coverage of the news and telling audiences the truth. Through World War II, the Cold War, the fight against global terrorism, and the struggle for freedom around the globe today, VOA exemplifies the principles of a free press.
Connect with VOA News:
» VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.voanews.com/
» LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/voiceofamerica
» FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/voanews/
» FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/VOANews
){kind=link}
Comments