The Ecuadorian government has filed a criminal complaint following an alleged assassination attempt on President Daniel Noboa during a visit to the southern province of Cañar.
Environment and Energy Minister Ines Manzano told reporters that Noboa’s motorcade came under attack in the town of El Tambo on Tuesday while en route to a local stadium for the launch of new public works.
“About 500 people appeared and began throwing stones, and there are also bullet marks on the president’s car,” Manzano said, adding that Noboa was unharmed.
Police arrested five suspects, who will face terrorism charges, and several vehicles in the convoy were damaged. The presidential office accused the attackers of attempting to block the inauguration of a community project.
The incident occurred on the 16th day of nationwide protests led by indigenous communities against the government’s decision to end diesel subsidies on September 12, a move that sharply increased fuel prices and sparked widespread unrest.
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Earlier, President Noboa had ordered the extension of the state of emergency in four coastal provinces and one canton for 30 days amid escalating violence linked to organised crime.
The extension, issued under Executive Decree 175, applies to the provinces of Guayas, El Oro, Los Ríos, and Manabí, as well as the canton of Echeandía in the central province of Bolívar.
The emergency, initially declared for 60 days in August, was imposed in response to what authorities described as “serious internal unrest.” Under the decree, constitutional protections against home searches and the privacy of correspondence are suspended.
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