President Bernardo Arevalo issues the order after at least seven police officers killed in apparent reprisal for authorities quelling riots, ending hostage-taking in three prisons.
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Guatemala’s president has declared a state of emergency following a weekend eruption of violence during which gang members took dozens of hostages across three prisons and killed at least seven police officers in the capital in apparent retribution, after the authorities regained control of facilities where inmates had rioted.
President Bernardo Arevalo issued a 30-day order on Sunday, which restricts civil liberties and allows security officers to arrest or question individuals without prior court approval. The emergency order takes immediate effect, although it still needs to be approved by Guatemala’s legislature.
