QUITO, July 23 (Reuters) – The mayor of the Ecuadorian Pacific port metropolis of Manta, Agustin Intriago, was shot useless on Sunday, authorities mentioned, in a brazen assault that surprised the political institution.
Police mentioned Intriago, 38, who was re-elected mayor of Manta in February, was inspecting public works within the metropolis on the time of the assault.
Regional police commander Edwin Noguera informed reporters {that a} gunman obtained out of a stolen truck and opened hearth on Intriago, hitting him and a girl described as a “collateral sufferer”. Each died of their accidents.
Safety officers together with the mayor returned hearth and injured the motive force of the automobile, who’s now in custody whereas receiving medical therapy in hospital. Noguera mentioned the person was a Venezuelan nationwide with no prison report.
The suspected shooter escaped, Noguera mentioned.
Police mentioned officers discovered a grenade within the truck and a firearm that was probably used within the assault.
It was not instantly clear why the mayor was attacked, though police mentioned he reported receiving threats from authorities, with out offering additional particulars.
Ecuador has confronted a rise in violent crime which the federal government says is pushed by energy struggles between prison gangs over drug trafficking.
Manta, a metropolis of greater than 200,000 individuals, has been tormented by such gangs, whereas rampant crime fueled by financial and social issues provides to the nation’s safety considerations.
President Guillermo Lasso expressed his disappointment over Intriago’s “assassination” in a press release on Twitter and mentioned he had ordered authorities to carry the killers to justice.
Former president Rafael Correa expressed his shock, saying on Twitter: “I am unable to consider this occurred.”
In Could, gunmen focused the mayor of the city of Duran. He escaped the assault unscathed however a police officer was killed and a number of other different individuals had been injured, media reported.
Intriago belonged to a neighborhood political celebration in Manta.
Earlier, authorities mentioned six individuals had been killed over the weekend and 11 others injured within the newest outbreak of gang-fueled violence that rocked Ecuador’s prisons.
Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; edited by Diane Craft, Sonali Paul, Chris Reese and Michael Perry
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