Guatemala has entered a heightened security phase after President Bernardo Arévalo declared a 30-day nationwide state of emergency aimed at dismantling powerful criminal gangs, following deadly attacks that left eight police officers dead and dozens injured.
The declaration came on Sunday after authorities accused gang-linked groups of orchestrating coordinated violence in response to government action against imprisoned gang leaders. The attacks followed a major prison uprising in which gang-affiliated inmates held 46 people hostage across three prisons, demanding the transfer of their leaders to lower-security facilities.
Police Killings and Prison Uprisings
Guatemala’s Interior Ministry confirmed that eight police officers were killed “in the line of duty” in the capital and surrounding areas. Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda described the attacks as retaliatory strikes by what he termed “terrorists,” reacting to intensified state operations against organised crime.
Ten other officers were wounded, while one suspected gang member was killed during the clashes, according to officials.
The violence erupted a day after inmates linked to criminal gangs seized guards and a psychiatrist hostage at three facilities: Renovación I in Escuintla, Fraijanes II, and Preventivo prison on the outskirts of Guatemala City.
President Arévalo said security forces had successfully regained control of all three prisons by Sunday, freeing all hostages without fatalities during the rescue operations.
State of Emergency Measures
Under the state of emergency decree, which requires approval by the opposition-controlled Congress, key civil liberties will be temporarily suspended. These include the right of assembly, and authorities will be permitted to arrest and interrogate suspects without a court order.
The president of Congress, opposition leader Luis Contreras, urged political unity, calling the crisis “one of the most painful and challenging moments” in Guatemala’s recent history.
The US Embassy in Guatemala advised its personnel to shelter in place and avoid crowds, while the government announced the closure of schools nationwide on Monday as a precautionary measure.
Dawn Assault on Maximum-Security Prison
At dawn on Sunday, police backed by the army launched a rapid operation at the Renovación I maximum-security prison, using armoured vehicles and tear gas to overwhelm inmates. Within 15 minutes, authorities had regained full control and rescued nine hostages.
The Interior Ministry later released footage showing the arrest of Aldo Dupie, alias “El Lobo,” identified as the alleged leader of the Barrio 18 gang in Guatemala. Dupie was seen handcuffed, with bloodstained clothing, as officers escorted him away.
Barrio 18 and its rival, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), are widely blamed for much of the drug trafficking, extortion, and violent crime in Guatemala. Both groups have been designated terrorist organisations by the United States.
Escalating Criminal Violence
Officials also confirmed that 28 hostages were freed from Fraijanes II prison and another nine from Preventivo prison, with President Arévalo stating there were no casualties during the coordinated rescue efforts.
Defence Minister Henry Sáenz said the military would remain deployed across the country as part of ongoing efforts to “dismantle” criminal networks.
Gang-related unrest has been escalating since mid-2025, with repeated prison uprisings aimed at forcing authorities to ease detention conditions for gang leaders. In October, 20 senior Barrio 18 leaders escaped from custody; only six have since been recaptured, while one was killed.
A Persistent Security Challenge
Guatemala continues to grapple with entrenched criminal violence. The country recorded a homicide rate of 16.1 per 100,000 people in 2025 more than twice the global average underscoring the scale of the challenge facing Arévalo’s government.
As Congress debates the emergency decree, the coming weeks will test the administration’s ability to restore order while balancing security imperatives with constitutional rights.
