State of Emergency in Guatemala: Coordinated Attacks on Police Leave 7 Dead

Guatemala City, – Following a wave of coordinated attacks targeting the National Civil Police across the country, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo has declared a 30-day nationwide state of emergency (State of Siege). Authorities announced on Sunday that at least seven police officers were killed in the attacks.

The surge in violence is linked to riots at three prisons, where gang members had taken 46 hostages. President Arévalo confirmed that security forces have restored control over all three facilities and stated that the emergency measures aim to strengthen state action against criminal gangs and ensure public safety.

In honor of the fallen officers, the President has declared three days of national mourning. Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda reported that the attacks were related to disturbances inside the prisons and confirmed that security forces remain on high alert.

In an official statement, the Guatemalan government described the violence as a retaliatory response to state action, emphasizing that authorities “will not yield to terrorists or negotiate under duress.”

President Arévalo also announced that the National Civil Police and the military would be deployed nationwide to protect citizens and maintain public order. The incidents have revealed the organized power of criminal gangs and their confrontation with the state in Guatemala.

Organized crime and gang violence have long been persistent issues in the country. President Arévalo, who took office last November with a reformist agenda, now faces a major challenge in establishing security and public order. Security forces have been deployed across the nation, and the coming days will be crucial in determining the situation, which remains the most pressing question for Guatemala today.