390:
366:
were fired from a rifle against the patrol that was transporting the soldiers and then they received a burst of mortars. As a result of the shooting, two soldiers received minor injuries from flying shrapnel. On that same day, at approximately 9:30 in the morning, a second incident was also recorded through a detonation of a homemade explosive in a patrol car belonging to the UPC Alto Tambo in the El Pan parish, in the San
Lorenzo canton.
332:
fatalities or serious injuries, but there was material damage to infrastructure. The explosion affected the surrounding area smashing the windows of the Fire
Department building, the Parish Government, the communal house and other surrounding homes. Only three sailors were slightly injured after the attack and the collapse of part of the wall of that military post was reported.
223:. The detonation affected the structure of the police precinct, destroying the rear wall and windows of the building where the dining room and bedrooms function; In addition, it affected 37 surrounding homes that were located within a radius of 50 metres. There were no fatalities, however, it left 28 people injured, of which 14 were police officers who were in the building.
28:
534:
The first injured victims were recorded on
January 7, 2018, after the first attack in San Lorenzo, where 28 people were affected, 14 of them being police officers who were in the police building. The injuries were minor and the vast majority were treated at the Divina Providencia Hospital and the San
468:
network received photographs of what were presumed to be the bodies of the three kidnapped people. At first, the government authorities and the
Ecuadorian president did not confirm the veracity of the photographs, giving them a period of 12 hours to provide evidence that the three captives were still
145:
In the days following the attack in San
Lorenzo, several minor attacks began to be recorded. On March 22, another explosion occurred from a bombing located on the side of the San Lorenzo-Mataje highway, which caused the death of 3 marines, in addition to leaving 7 more injured. The crisis worsened on
365:
After the attack in Borbón, on Sunday, March 18, two incidents occurred in the San
Lorenzo canton. The first occurred in the town of El Pan, near the Colombian-Ecuadorian border, where Ecuadorian military personnel patrolling the area received an attack of gunfire coming from some homes. The shots
285:
The injured were immediately treated at the Divina
Providencia hospital and at the health center in that town. Due to their minor injuries, they were discharged around noon. The report on the material damage was given by Police Colonel Richard Carolys, while the evaluation and actions at the scene
504:
Shortly after the murder of the journalists, the
National Secretariat of Communication of Ecuador issued a statement on Twitter in which it declared that two more people had been kidnapped. The couple were Ecuadorian nationals Oscar Efrén Villacís Gómez and Katty Vanesa Velasco Pinargote. This
517:
had given a statement on Monday declaring a period of 10 days to surrender and
Ecuador put a reward of US$ 100,000 and calling the kidnappers "cowards because they use human shields to want to blackmail the Ecuadorian people." This was shocking because even during the most severe parts of the
331:
canton. The explosive device was homemade and consisted of a cable that was connected at one end to a jute bag loaded with gunpowder, and the other end connected to an electricity meter of a church located 100 meters from the checkpoint according to the respective police report. There were no
526:, in the southwest of the country, later identified as the two kidnapped Ecuadorian citizens. Following this military operations in the border area were strengthened. Paradoxically, it was the signing of the peace agreements in Colombia in 2016 that seems to have changed the situation.
137:
exploded leaving 28 people injured, as well as severe damage to the infrastructure of the police precinct and 37 homes in the vicinity. In preliminary investigations, Ecuadorian authorities linked this incident to criminal organizations linked to drug trafficking and the
353:). Authorities considered that the objective of the attack was to create a distraction during the raids resulting from the operation. After the operation, 20 homes were raided (18 in Esmeraldas, 2 in Guayas) and 5 people linked to Walter Patricio Arízala Vernaza (
472:
On April 13, President Moreno confirmed the murder of the three
Ecuadorians and announced a military operation against illegal groups in the border area with Colombia. Likewise, as a result of these events, the Ecuadorian president ordered the suspension of the
374:
On Tuesday, March 20, 2018, there was a detonation of an explosive device placed on the San Lorenzo-Mataje highway, where military vehicles with Army troops were passing with the aim of continuing with the operations to control the situation.
405:
r, were kidnapped. They were 32-year-old journalist Javier Ortega, 46-year-old photographer Paúl Rivas and 60-year-old driver Efraín Segarra. The team was working on reports about the violence that had occurred weeks before in that area.
317:
On February 19, 2018, two soldiers were injured in an attack with artisanal mortars by dissidents of the former FARC guerrilla against Ecuadorian soldiers in the Pan zone in Esmeraldas Province. The uniformed men suffered minor injuries.
436:
our lives are in your hands. The only thing they want is the exchange of their three detainees in Ecuador for our three lives to return safely to their families and, also the annulment of the terrorism agreement between
326:
48 days after the attack in San Lorenzo, on Saturday, March 17, 2018, around 02:30 in the morning, another detonation was recorded near a naval checkpoint of the Ecuadorian Navy in the town of Borbón, in the
196:
It is believed by the government that it was not only the Oliver Sinesterra Front involved, but that the Mantaro Rojo Base Committee and the Defense Front of People's Struggles of Ecuador also participated.
1000:
522:, Ecuador had remained almost immune to the violence occurring on the other side of its northern border. On July 4, the Colombian Government confirmed that the two bodies found in the city of
309:
in an attempt to strengthen security in the area. The first theories about the attack postulated that the attack was carried out by criminal organizations linked to drug trafficking.
1161:
1201:
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guerrilla that were taking place in this country, also withdrawing as guarantor of the process. The bodies of the journalistic group were recovered in Ecuador on the
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661:
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The kidnapping and subsequent murder of the journalists, as well as the responsibility for several of the attacks, have been attributed to the
858:
881:
1221:
1241:
731:
206:
1166:
478:
76:
1211:
147:
188:
182:, calling themselves an "active front", but Colombia does not call them an insurgent group but rather a criminal group, calling it a
568:
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1181:
974:"Prueba de vida del equipo periodístico secuestrado en Mataje se develó en Colombia; el Gobierno de Ecuador rechazó la difusión"
1156:
973:
349:
1080:"El gobierno de Ecuador confirma la muerte de los tres periodistas que fueron secuestrados por un grupo disidente de las FARC"
590:
384:
183:
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1206:
616:
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The attack occurred while an operation called "Libertador" was being carried out in several towns in the provinces of
748:
492:. On June 21, their identities were confirmed. For its part, the Ecuadorian government sent a note of protest to the
347:
and elements from the Colombian Prosecutor's Office and from the United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (
1135:
http://www.vanguardia.com/colombia/436991-fiscalia-confirmo-identidad-de-los-cuerpos-de-los-periodistas-ecuatorianos
130:
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215:
exploded in the parking lot behind the headquarters building of the San Lorenzo District Police Command, in the
482:
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Slogan of the media and citizen campaign that demanded the release of the El Comercio staff kidnapped by
1226:
402:
158:
493:
127:
107:
925:
414:
336:
119:
115:
591:"Posible coche bomba deja 14 policías heridos en atentado a cuartel de San Lorenzo, en Esmeraldas"
161:, who were covering a report on the events that were taking place in Mataje and its surroundings.
519:
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302:
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216:
139:
389:
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for the handling of information on Social media, bypassing the respective diplomatic channel.
465:
425:
1079:
823:"20 allanamientos y cinco detenidos en operativo Libertador, coincide con atentado en Borbón"
428:
broadcast a video of the three kidnapped Ecuadorians, in which journalist Javier Ortega said:
1027:"Tres periodistas ecuatorianos secuestrados; dos visiones sobre el manejo de la información"
544:
449:
The video also mentioned that the perpetrators of the kidnapping was the group called the
340:
287:
166:
514:
433:
294:
1001:"Divulgan un video que muestra encadenados a los periodistas ecuatorianos secuestrados"
357:) were arrested, who was suspected of being responsible for the attack in San Lorenzo.
845:"Autoridades fijan sus ojos en alias 'Guacho' tras atentado terrorista en San Lorenzo"
269:— Detonation of an explosive device against a police vehicle in the Alto Tambo sector.
1145:
662:"Lenín Moreno decreta estado de excepción en San Lorenzo y Eloy Alfaro tras atentado"
454:
410:
354:
111:
409:
The kidnapping occurred after passing the last military checkpoint in the town of
1107:"Ecuador confirma el asesinato de los dos periodistas y el chófer secuestrados"
778:"Detonan artefacto explosivo en retén naval de Borbón, provincia de Esmeraldas"
1114:
1034:
684:"César Navas dice que atentado en San Lorenzo fue obra de carteles mexicanos"
569:"Atentado con coche bomba en cuartel policial en Esmeraldas deja 28 heridos"
27:
710:"Dos soldados ecuatorianos heridos tras ataque de disidentes de las FARC"
510:
442:
212:
134:
54:
513:
following the murder of the two journalists and their driver. President
506:
438:
123:
1057:"Ecuador: Fotos confirmaron asesinato de los periodistas secuestrados"
126:. The attacks began on January 7, 2018, outside the facilities of the
523:
926:"Periodistas de El Comercio secuestrados: un recuento de siete días"
379:
Kidnapping and murders of journalists from the newspaper El Comercio
250:— Detonation of explosive material near a naval checkpoint in Borbón
279:— Detonation of explosive device against military vehicle in Mataje
263:
approx. — Bursts of gunfire against soldiers in the El Pan sector.
174:(FARC), who refused to lay down their arms, refusing to accept the
106:
were a series of terrorist attacks that took place in the towns of
732:"Esmeraldas: Atentado con explosivos en el retén naval en Borbón"
505:
occired in the midst of joint military operations carried out by
801:"Atentado en Borbón coincide con operativo por caso San Lorenzo"
237:— Car bomb explosion outside a police checkpoint in San Lorenzo
640:"Explosión en comando policial de San Lorenzo dejó 23 heridos"
170:, a dissident group of the Daniel Aldana Mobile Column of the
343:, which included the participation of 13 tax agents from the
952:"¿Quiénes son los tres periodistas secuestrados en Ecuador?"
859:"Militares heridos tras dos ataques en El Pan, Esmeraldas"
286:
included the participation of military personnel from the
211:
On Saturday, January 27, 2018, at 01:40 in the morning, a
904:"Nuevo ataque en Esmeraldas deja tres militares heridos"
882:"Dos heridos deja un nuevo enfrentamiento en Esmeraldas"
617:"95 por ciento del edificio policial quedó destruido"
301:
valid for 60 days only with effect in the cantons of
619:(in European Spanish). Teleamazonas. 27 January 2018
401:
On March 26, 2018, three workers from the newspaper
207:
2018 attack against the San Lorenzo police district
92:
82:
68:
60:
50:
42:
34:
20:
104:attacks on the northern border of Ecuador in 2018
77:Frente de Defensa de Luchas del Pueblo de Ecuador
500:Kidnapping and murders of a couple on the border
226:
133:district where, in the early morning hours, a
21:2018 attacks on the northern border of Ecuador
8:
1162:Terrorist incidents in South America in 2018
1202:Attacks on police stations in South America
712:(in Spanish). El Universo. 20 February 2018
457:, a dissident of the demobilized Colombian
1029:(in Mexican Spanish). The New York Times.
664:(in Spanish). El Universo. 27 January 2018
571:(in Spanish). El Universo. 27 January 2018
345:Office of the Attorney General of Colombia
26:
17:
1025:Cabrera, José María León (4 April 2018).
477:between the Colombian government and the
825:(in Spanish). El Universo. 16 March 2018
780:(in Spanish). El Universo. 16 March 2018
388:
361:Minor incidents in Alto Tambo and El Pan
1232:Attacks on police stations in the 2010s
1197:Car and truck bombings in South America
954:(in Spanish). El Universo. 3 April 2018
749:"Un ataque terrorista sacudió a Borbón"
560:
172:Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
861:(in Spanish). Ecuavisa. 18 March 2018
772:
770:
385:Kidnapping of El Comercio journalists
184:Residual Organized Armed Group (GAOR)
148:kidnapping and murders of journalists
7:
906:(in Spanish). Vistazo. 18 March 2018
743:
741:
1237:Assassinated Ecuadorian journalists
803:(in European Spanish). El Telégrafo
642:(in European Spanish). El Telégrafo
1192:Building bombings in South America
424:On April 3, the Colombian network
417:, a province in the region of the
297:signed the same day the decree of
14:
638:Telégrafo, El (27 January 2018).
219:, Esmeraldas Province, near the
1252:2018 in international relations
1055:EC, Redacción (13 April 2018).
799:Telégrafo, El (17 March 2018).
178:between this guerrilla and the
46:January 27, 2018 – July 4, 2018
1187:Car and truck bombings in 2018
1105:España, Sara (13 April 2018).
1:
1172:Illegal drug trade in Ecuador
884:(in European Spanish). ANDES
1242:Kidnapping in South America
847:. La Hora. 30 January 2018.
395:the Oliver Sinisterra Front
1268:
1167:Organized crime in Ecuador
483:Fuerza Pública de Colombia
382:
204:
1212:Road incidents in Ecuador
1059:(in Spanish). El Comercio
313:First attacks on the Army
25:
453:, led by the Ecuadorian
73:Comité Base Mantaro Rojo
1247:Kidnapping in the 2010s
1222:Colombia–Ecuador border
1182:2018 murders in Ecuador
1109:(in Spanish). El País.
880:ANDES (18 March 2018).
550:War on drugs in Ecuador
535:Lorenzo health center.
451:Oliver Sinisterra Front
419:Colombia–Ecuador border
221:Colombia–Ecuador border
167:Oliver Sinisterra Front
87:War on drugs in Ecuador
1157:2018 building bombings
1078:Mundo, Redacción BBC.
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282:
932:(in European Spanish)
690:(in European Spanish)
430:
392:
201:Attack in San Lorenzo
1177:Terrorism in Ecuador
494:Colombian government
475:peace talks in Quito
180:Colombian government
1217:Esmeraldas Province
1207:2018 road incidents
999:Constante, Soraya.
120:Esmeraldas Province
38:Esmeraldas, Ecuador
520:Colombian conflict
399:
299:state of exception
217:San Lorenzo Canton
146:March 26 with the
140:illegal drug trade
464:On April 12, the
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370:Attack in Mataje
322:Attack in Borbón
229:January 27, 2018
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530:Injured victims
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432:"Mr. President
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288:Ecuadorian Navy
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1227:FARC actions
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515:Lenin Moreno
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455:Alias Guacho
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69:Perpetrators
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978:El Comercio
753:El Comercio
595:El Comercio
486: [
461:guerillas.
403:El Comercio
329:Eloy Alfaro
307:Eloy Alfaro
303:San Lorenzo
187: [
159:El Comercio
151: [
128:San Lorenzo
122:, Northern
108:San Lorenzo
1146:Categories
556:References
415:Esmeraldas
337:Esmeraldas
293:President
1115:1134-6582
1084:BBC Mundo
1035:0362-4331
1005:Univision
93:Inquiries
1120:13 April
1090:13 April
1063:13 April
1040:13 April
1010:13 April
984:13 April
958:13 April
936:13 April
910:12 April
888:12 April
865:12 April
829:12 April
807:12 April
784:12 April
759:12 April
694:10 April
668:10 April
646:10 April
623:10 April
601:10 April
575:10 April
539:See also
511:Colombia
443:Colombia
213:car bomb
135:car bomb
55:Car bomb
35:Location
930:gk.city
716:19 June
507:Ecuador
469:alive.
439:Ecuador
124:Ecuador
118:in the
51:Weapons
1113:
1033:
524:Tumaco
411:Mataje
341:Guayas
112:Mataje
83:Motive
61:Deaths
490:]
413:, in
267:09:40
261:09:00
248:02:30
235:01:40
191:]
157:from
155:]
116:Viche
1122:2018
1111:ISSN
1092:2018
1065:2018
1042:2018
1031:ISSN
1012:2018
986:2018
960:2018
938:2018
912:2018
890:2018
867:2018
831:2018
809:2018
786:2018
761:2018
718:2018
696:2018
670:2018
648:2018
625:2018
603:2018
577:2018
509:and
459:FARC
441:and
339:and
305:and
114:and
102:The
43:Date
479:ELN
466:RCN
445:.".
426:RCN
350:FBI
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