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Gang violence kills at least 25 in Honduras
TL;DR
Gunmen in Honduras have killed at least 25 people, including six police officers, in a series of violent attacks. The most significant incident occurred at a palm plantation in Trujillo, where 19 individuals were killed.
Key points
- Gunmen killed at least 25 people in Honduras
- Six police officers were among the victims
- Nineteen people died in an attack at a palm plantation in Trujillo
- The violence occurred despite government efforts to control crime
- The oldest victim was reported to be 61 years old
Mentioned in this story
HondurasTrujillo
Gunmen have killed at least 25 people, including six police officers, in attacks across Honduras.
The attacks marked Thursday as one of the most violent days the country has seen in recent years. They came despite ongoing efforts by the government to rein in organised crime and violence.
Nineteen people were killed as gunmen raided a palm plantation in the municipality of Trujillo in the north of the country.
A leader of one rural group told the AFP news agency that those killed were employees of an armed group controlling a plantation.
However, local media indicated that armed suspects had fired indiscriminately on labourers. They reported that the oldest victim was 61.
Photos showed bodies, some wearing thick rubber boots for work, strewn on the ground outside.
Meanwhile, in the west near the Guatemalan border, six police officers were killed in another shooting in the municipality of Omoa.
Police report that the officers had travelled to the area as part of an operation to quash gang activity. However, they were ambushed.
After the two attacks, the National Police issued a statement, saying it “will proceed immediately with a direct intervention in the affected areas”.
“The state will act firmly to capture those responsible, protect vulnerable communities and guarantee comprehensive justice for all affected victims,” it added.
Gang violence
Honduras is struggling to crack down on gang violence. Until January, many parts of the country were under a state of emergency launched in 2022.
That emergency decree ended, however, with the inauguration of right-wing President Nasry “Tito” Asfura, a close ally of United States President Donald Trump, who has prioritised a hardline approach to security in Latin America.
The attacks will, therefore, raise concerns over security, but also civil liberties.
President Nasry Asfura gestures as he delivers a speech during his swearing-in ceremony at the Congress building in Tegucigalpa [File: Reuters]
Q&A
What happened in Honduras that led to 25 deaths?
Gunmen carried out a series of attacks across Honduras, resulting in at least 25 fatalities, including six police officers.
Where did the most violent attack occur in Honduras?
The most violent attack occurred at a palm plantation in Trujillo, where 19 people were killed.
What is the government's response to gang violence in Honduras?
The government of Honduras has been making ongoing efforts to combat organized crime and violence, despite the recent surge in attacks.
