Disturbances in Otavalo, Ecuador: Police Station Set Ablaze During National Strike
During a national strike in Ecuador, violent clashes erupted in Otavalo, Imbabura province, culminating in the burning of the local police command. The incident resulted in injuries to at least two officers and significant damage to the building and vehicles.
The Incident in Otavalo
According to authorities, approximately one thousand protesters participated in the violent acts against the police station. The clashes involved the throwing of objects, setting fires, and required intervention from the Fire Department to control the flames. The Otavalo police station attack became a focal point during the national strike on September 22, 2025. The violence resulted in two injured officers and considerable property damage.
The National Police reported that around 1,000 demonstrators concentrated in the center of Otavalo and attacked the police command facilities. The institution described the attackers' actions as "terrorist," accusing them of throwing objects, setting fire to private and official vehicles, and endangering the safety of the agents inside. Two officers were injured, and the building suffered severe damage to its infrastructure, doors, and windows. Videos on social media showed motorcycles and cars engulfed in flames, requiring the Fire Department's intervention.
Government Response and Arrests
The Ministry of the Interior reported the arrest of 20 individuals in Otavalo, including two foreign nationals allegedly linked to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization. Nationally, over 50 people were arrested following the day of protests. Minister John Reimberg stated that the two foreign citizens detained might have links to the Tren de Aragua, categorized as a terrorist group in Ecuador and the United States.
Minister Reimberg warned via social media that those who attack the State will be prosecuted under terrorism charges. He identified the foreign detainees as William Andrés R.L. and Jonathan Bernin A.A., indicating they were of Venezuelan nationality and possibly connected to Tren de Aragua. This claim has shifted the official narrative, linking social protest with organized criminal structures.
Official Condemnation and Aftermath
The government has categorized the acts as terrorism and vowed to prosecute offenders to the full extent of the law. The strike was triggered by the elimination of diesel subsidies, a measure that has been met with widespread rejection. The Police condemned the violence, describing the assault on the command as an attempt to create chaos. They urged calm and dialogue as the only legitimate means to express demands and resolve conflicts.
According to Reimberg, more than 50 individuals were detained nationwide. The most significant operation occurred in Otavalo, with 20 arrests, including the two suspects allegedly linked to Tren de Aragua. The official insisted that the Government would not allow a few individuals to sow chaos under the pretext of social protest.
Impact and Context of the Protests
The attack has become a critical point within the strike called by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie) and other social sectors. Although mobilizations occurred in different parts of the country, the magnitude of the violence in Otavalo shifted attention to the alleged presence of organized crime groups amid the protests. The protests are in response to the elimination of the diesel subsidy.
The government of Daniel Noboa, which maintains that the discontent was limited, now faces the challenge of containing the perception that social protest is being criminalized and preventing current demonstrations from escalating in intensity and violence, similar to events in October 2019 and June 2022.
