Guatemala mourns 10 police slain by gangsters amid state of emergency

In a series of coordinated gangster attacks in Guatemala that started with prison riots in three facilities and spread to the capital in retribution killings, the government declared a state of emergency.

The Associated Press reported late on Monday that a 10th police officer had died as a result of the attacks, as lawmakers in the nation’s legislatures approved the 30-day state of emergency, which had been in place the day before.

After security forces regained control of a prison holding the gang’s leader, Aldo “El Lobo” Duppie, the violence broke out on Saturday when members of the notorious Barrio 18 gang took dozens of guards hostage at three prisons.

The gang, which is reportedly involved in drug trafficking in Central America along with rival Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), demanded favors from its members and leaders, according to the authorities.

The state of emergency, which restricts freedom of movement and demonstrations and allows police to detain people without a warrant from the court, was published on Monday in the government gazette.

The declaration also gives police authority to impose searches on certain locations or restrict the movement of vehicles in certain areas. It also condemns the “coordinated actions” of the gangsters against state forces.

“Sacrifice” in the service of others

As the nation was wracked by the violence in a state of fear and outrage, with more security in the capital’s streets, police honored their fallen colleagues in a ceremony held at the Interior Ministry on Monday.

Arevalo said on Monday, “Today it pains me to give each of the families this flag, symbol of the nation that will not forget the sacrifice and commitment of their police officers who have fallen in the line of duty.”

In Guatemalan prisons, gang members have staged numerous uprisings since the middle of 2025 to demand that their leaders be held in less restrictive conditions. 20 Barrio 18 members escaped prison in October. One person was shot dead, while only six have been recaptured.