Ecuador Prison Raid

At least fifteen members of the Ecuadorian armed forces were wounded thursday during a raid on the El Litoral prison which is the largest in the country.

The government says, two thousand and six hundred officers from the armed forces and police took part in the operation. According to Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso, he requested the armed forces to act with force, but within the rule of law.

Inmates who were to be relocated to another prison threw grenades when the military and police entered the facilities. In recent days, nearly one thousand inmates were relocated in an effort to reduce the population and avoid possible confrontations between rival gangs.

Two inmates were injured and six others were killed during fights inside the prison.