Ecuador: Attack leaves at least seven injured in Quito
The country is plagued by a violent war between criminal gangs involved in drug trafficking, kidnapping, and extortion.
Police in Ecuador
Ecuadorian authorities reported that at least seven people were injured Thursday by an explosion in the capital, which is under a state of emergency due to rising organized crime violence.
Nestled in the Andes, Quito had not previously been targeted by explosive attacks, unlike the southwestern port city of Guayaquil, where such attacks are frequently used to intimidate merchants who refuse to pay extortion fees.
Thursday night in northern Quito, the police reported on their X account that an explosive device was detonated after being launched from a motorcycle.
">#INFORMAMOS
— Policía DMQ Zona 9 (@PoliciaDMQZona9) June 20, 2025
Esta noche en la Av. Prensa y Logroño, #UIO, se registró la detonación de un artefacto explosivo lanzado desde una moto.
Se registraron daños materiales y 1 herido, quien se encuentra estable.
Nos encontramos desplegados para dar con los responsables.
En desarrollo pic.twitter.com/WTnqe6D9A3
According to firefighters, "seven people were injured by shrapnel," with two of them taken to hospitals.
"At this time, investigations are underway to clarify the facts and identify those responsible," the Police said in statements reported by El Comercio of Ecuador.
Violence in Ecuador
According to authorities, two vehicles were also damaged in the explosion.
Quito and the provinces of Guayas, Los Rios, Manabi, Orellana, Santa Elena, El Oro, and Sucumbios are under a state of exception due to gang violence.
LATEST
