Five people have been arrested following an alleged assassination attempt on Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, according to the country’s Minister of Environment and Energy, Ines Manzano.
The minister stated that on Tuesday, Noboa’s car was surrounded by a group of around 500 people throwing rocks as he traveled in a convoy to an event in Cañar province. Although Noboa was not hurt in the attack, the minister reported that signs of bullet damage were later found on the car.
Authorities have filed a formal report alleging an assassination attempt and said those detained will face terrorism and attempted murder charges. The national Indigenous federation, CONAIE, which has been leading protests, alleged that orchestrated violence had been used against their demonstrators and that their members were arbitrarily detained.
This is not the first time a convoy carrying Noboa has been attacked. In September, officials reported that approximately 350 people attacked a motorcade carrying the president and diplomats during a protest in Imbabura province, ambushing the convoy with fireworks, Molotov cocktails, and rocks.
The attacks occur amid ongoing unrest in Ecuador, sparked by the government’s decision to end a diesel subsidy to reduce public spending.
In recent weeks, demonstrators, led mostly by Ecuador’s Indigenous community, have blocked roads and clashed with security forces. One such incident a week ago resulted in the death of one civilian and several injuries.