Assassination in Ecuador: Mayor killed, multiple casualties reported

The mayor of Manta, Ecuador's third largest city, was killed in a shooting that also left one other person dead and four wounded, including two suspected attackers. The motive for the attack is unknown, and President Guillermo Lasso has instructed the police to locate those responsible. Ecuador is currently facing a surge in violence attributed to organized crime groups, with a serious outbreak of violence and a rise in armed attacks, kidnappings, robberies, and extortion. Additionally, a prison battle between rival gang members in Guayaquil resulted in the deaths of five inmates and the injury of 11 others.