Police storm the prison in Escuintla. Image: keystone
Jan 18, 2026, 5:17 p.mJan 18, 2026, 5:17 p.m
After mutinies in three prisons in Guatemala, police stormed one of the detention centers and freed the guards who had been taken hostage there. The prison in the city of Escuintla is again under the control of security forces, police said. The leader of the Mara 18 gang was captured during the operation. Photos showed heavily armed officers taking him away.
The emergency services then reported a series of attacks on police officers in the greater Guatemala City area. At least five officers were killed and eight others were injured when unknown people opened fire on them, a fire department spokesman said.
One of the hostage takers is taken away.Image: keystone
Inmates take guards hostage
Previously, prisoners in the three prisons had taken around 40 guards hostage. Prisoners showed up at the watchtowers and demanded improvements in prison conditions, as seen in a video from the Prensa Libre newspaper. Police and military surrounded prisons in Guatemala City, Escuintla and Quetzaltenango. The prisoners released a pregnant correctional officer.
Pandilleros toman el control de la Cárcel Renovación 1 en Guatemala.
Results of the policies of a government “progre”
Sigan preocupándose más por los delincuentes que por las victims y pronto los delincuentes tendrán control de TODO el país. pic.twitter.com/Ktp8sSfLa1
— Jose Valdez (@JoseValdezSV) January 17, 2026
The uprisings were a result of the authorities’ decision to revoke the privileges of imprisoned criminal gang leaders, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. The Central American country’s prison administration said mobile phones, weapons and drugs were seized during raids on prisons and illegal buildings in the prisons were destroyed.
Interior Minister: “I will not allow myself to be blackmailed”
“I will not allow myself to be blackmailed and will not give them back their privileges,” said Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda. “If it is necessary to use state force to regain control of these detention centers, then we will do that.”
In Central America, powerful youth gangs – the so-called Maras – control entire city districts and are involved in protection rackets and drug trafficking. The imprisoned gang leaders often continue to control their criminal operations from prison. (sda/dpa)