In Ecuador, the attack targeting presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio left at least nine people injured, the country’s Attorney General reported via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The terse statement confirmed the preliminary casualty figure and noted that among the wounded were one candidate for public office and two police officers.
Earlier updates indicated Villavicencio, who was campaigning for the presidency, was shot during a rally in Quito, the capital. Reports stated that three bullets struck the candidate, and he was transported to a nearby medical facility where doctors were unable to rescue him. The confrontation also injured several bystanders, with eight people hurt in total, seven of whom were taken to the same hospital for treatment.
Following the incident, authorities detained two individuals suspected of participating in the assault, while fresh details revealed that three assailants opened fire at Villavicencio during the event. Investigators have emphasized that the investigation focuses on identifying all participants and motives behind the attack.
In related developments, earlier legal proceedings had involved a separate case concerning an individual who attempted to ignite the Lenin Mausoleum. While distinct in issue, the episode underscores a broader context of security concerns during political events in the region.