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El Salvador authorises 'lethal force' in gang crime crackdown after dozens of murders

Prisoners will "not receive sunlight" and will be kept in "total confinement" 24 hours a day following a spike in murders.

Monday 27 April 2020 15:59, UK

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No social distancing in El Salvador prison
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The president of El Salvador has authorised "lethal force" in the fight against criminal gangs.

The country has also enforced the opposite of social distancing in its jails, packing opposing gang members into the same cell.

President Nayib Bukele ordered a 24-hour prison lockdown after the central American country reported 24 homicides on Friday.

Editorial use only. HANDOUT /NO SALES.Mandatory Credit: Photo by El Salvador Presidency/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10625475c).A handout photo made available by the El Salvador Presidency shows inmates during an inspection at the Maximum Security Jail in Zacatecoluca, El Salvador, 25 April 2020 (issued 26 April 2020). Salvadorean President Nayib Bukele ordered jails to impose solitary confinement of gang leader inmates, following a wave of homicides in the country. Investigations have uncovered that part of the homicides were ordered from gang leaders in jails..Salvadorean Government imposes solitary confinement of gang leaders in prison, Zacatecoluca, El Salvador - 26 Apr 2020
Image: Prisoners have been held very close together. Pic: El Salvador Presidency/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Editorial use only. HANDOUT /NO SALES.Mandatory Credit: Photo by El Salvador Presidency/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10625475f).A handout photo made available by the El Salvador Presidency shows to a jail guard during an inspection of inmates at the Maximum Security Jail in Zacatecoluca, El Salvador, 25 April 2020 (issued 26 April 2020). Salvadorean President Nayib Bukele ordered jails to impose solitary confinement of gang leader inmates, following a wave of homicides in the country. Investigations have uncovered that part of the homicides were ordered from gang leaders in jails..Salvadorean Government imposes solitary confinement of gang leaders in prison, Zacatecoluca, El Salvador - 26 Apr 2020
Image: Guards have been issued with masks. Pic: El Salvador Presidency/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

It is the worst one-day total since Mr Bukele took office in June last year. By late afternoon on Sunday, police had registered another 29 murders.

Forcing rival gangs to share the same space is intended to break communication between members of the same group.

Mr Bukele said police and the armed forces can use "lethal force" to defend themselves or the "lives of Salvadorans".

He said criminals were taking advantage of the fact that security forces had been busy helping to contain the country's coronavirus outbreak.

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Prisoners "will not receive sunlight", said Osiris Luna, deputy security minister.

"They will be in total confinement 24 hours a day in the seven maximum security prisons that there are in this country."

Prisoners from different gangs are in the same cell
Image: Prisoners from different gangs are in the same cell
Editorial use only. HANDOUT /NO SALES.Mandatory Credit: Photo by El Salvador Presidency/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10625475d).A handout photo made available by the El Salvador Presidency shows inmates during an inspection at the Maximum Security Jail in Zacatecoluca, El Salvador, 25 April 2020 (issued 26 April 2020). Salvadorean President Nayib Bukele ordered jails to impose solitary confinement of gang leader inmates, following a wave of homicides in the country. Investigations have uncovered that part of the homicides were ordered from gang leaders in jails..Salvadorean Government imposes solitary confinement of gang leaders in prison, Zacatecoluca, El Salvador - 26 Apr 2020
Image: Inmates will be in 'total confinement 24 hours a day'. Pic: El Salvador Presidency/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Mr Luna added: "We have taken the decision to mix and imprison in each of the cells the different groups of the criminal gangs that are causing so much damage to the country.

"The government will not bow down to any terrorist structure. This state is going to enforce the law and make it respected."

Editorial use only. HANDOUT /NO SALES.Mandatory Credit: Photo by El Salvador Presidency/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10625475e).A handout photo made available by the El Salvador Presidency shows a jail guard during an inspection of inmates at the Maximum Security Jail in Zacatecoluca, El Salvador, 25 April 2020 (issued 26 April 2020). Salvadorean President Nayib Bukele ordered jails to impose solitary confinement of gang leader inmates, following a wave of homicides in the country. Investigations have uncovered that part of the homicides were ordered from gang leaders in jails..Salvadorean Government imposes solitary confinement of gang leaders in prison, Zacatecoluca, El Salvador - 26 Apr 2020
Image: Inmates being handcuffed. Pic: El Salvador Presidency/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
A prisoner holds out his hands to be cuffed
Image: There are almost 13,000 gang members in prison, authorities say

Mr Bukele said: "The police and armed forces must prioritise safeguarding their lives, those of their companions and of honest citizens.

"The use of lethal force is authorised in self-defence or in defence of the lives of Salvadorans."

According to prison authorities, 12,862 gang members are incarcerated in El Salvador.

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