Guatemalan police free hostages in prison as attacks kill 3 officers

ESCUINTLA, Guatemala (AP) — Hundreds of anti-riot police entered a maximum security prison in Guatemala early Sunday to free guards who had been taken hostage and retake control of the facility that houses gang leaders.

Shots sounded as police swept into the Renovación prison in Escuintla, about 47 miles (76 kilometers) southwest of Guatemala City. About 15 minutes later, an Associated Press journalist saw guards being escorted from the prison. They appeared to be unharmed. No injuries or deaths were immediately reported.

But shortly after authorities retook control of the prison, reports began to emerge of attacks on police in the capital.

National Civil Police Director David Custodio Boteo said there were at least 10 armed attacks against police, leaving three dead and at least five wounded. Five attackers were captured, he said.

Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda said Saturday night that nine guards were taken hostage in the prison. Some three dozen other guards were being held at two other prisons, where inmates took control in a coordinated uprising Saturday.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the inmate uprising was a direct result of the prison administrators’ decision to strip privileges from some imprisoned gang leaders.

“In Guatemala, we don’t negotiate with terrorists nor with organized crime,” the statement said. “We also don’t allow groups that have sown fear to impose their conditions.”

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This story has been corrected to show that the last name of the national civil police director is Boteo, not Botero.