Two police men hide behind a shield as a USB is detonated

A presenter in Ecuador , Lenin Artieda, was injured when he opened the envelope in the middle of the newsroom.

He said the explosive device looked like a USB drive. He plugged it into his computer and it detonated.

While Mr Artieda was injured by the device, others sent through the post failed to explode or were never opened.

The interior minister, Juan Zapata, said the devices were all sent from the same town. Three were sent to media outlets in Guayaquil and two to the capital, Quito.

The Ecuadorean attorney-general’s department confirmed it had opened a terrorism investigation into the letters on Monday.

The government has condemned the attacks, describing freedom of expression as “a right that must be respected”.

“Any attempt to intimidate journalism and freedom of expression is a loathsome action that should be punished with all the rigour of justice,” it said in a statement.

Police carried out a controlled detonation of one of the devices sent to TC Television, prosecutors confirmed.

Ecuador’s head of forensic science said they contained “military-type” explosives.

Ecuador has experienced an increase in violence, which its President, Guillermo Lasso, said is a result of competition between drug trafficking gangs for territory and control.

Guayaquil, Ecuador’s second-largest city, where three of the explosives were sent, has experienced dramatic levels of violence including decapitated bodies hanging from pedestrian bridges and deadly prison riots between rival gangs.

BBC

You May Also Like

Jigawa Announces ₦7.67 Million Fare for 2027 Hajj

Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board has officially announced the final fare for…

FASTR: Kaduna CSOs Trained On Data-Driven Advocacy

  By Khadija Kubau   Kaduna State has become the first state…

Kano Religious Leaders Urge Men to Support Wives’ Antenatal Care

Interfaith religious leaders in Kano State have called on men to ensure…

INEC Extends Candidate Deadline, Suspends Osun PVC Download

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has extended the deadline for…

Taraba Govt Debunks N1.2trn Claim, Says Domestic Debt Now N85.51bn.

The Taraba State Government has clarified its debt and financing position, saying…
Download FRCN Kaduna Hausa App