Journalists from three television channels in Ecuador received on Monday (03.20.2023) envelopes with pen drives (USB) loaded with explosives, and one exploded in front of a reporter without causing serious injuries, reported the Police and the affected media.
the private chain ecuavisa alerted that its journalist Lenin Artieda received an envelope with a pendrive and that when it was inserted into a computer “it exploded”. Artieda, who works in Guayaquil (southwest), “apparently he has some kind of discomfort in his hand and a very slight affectation on his face, but it is not a complex situation,” the National Police Criminalistics Chief told the press. Xavier Chango.
journalists from TC Television in Guayaquil and Teleamazon in Quito they also received an envelope with pen drives that contained explosives. The Prosecutor’s Office reported “the existence of (a) bomb” in the state TC Televisionwhile the private channel Teleamazon reported that he received “a USB with the same characteristics” as that of ecuavisa.
The NGO FUNDAMEDIASwhich promotes freedom of the press, pointed out that “in the attacks the same mode of operation“.
“Envelopes with letterheads arrived with the names of the journalists Lenin Artieda, from ecuavisaMauricio Ayora, from TC TelevisionMilton Perez, from Teleamazon. Inside the envelopes was a pendrive“, he claimed FUNDAMEDIAS it’s a statement.
The police chief commented that the charge used in the device that exploded in ecuavisa it could be “RDX”, “a military type explosive”. Police reported a possible room with explosives, but have not confirmed it. After the attacks, the Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation for the crime of terrorism, punishable by up to 13 years in prison.
In accordance with FUNDAMEDIAS, the envelope addressed to Artieda contained a threat against the journalist. The one that was addressed to Teleamazon It contained a note that read: “This information will expose Correísmo. If you think it is useful, we can reach an agreement and I will send you the second part. I will contact you,” he added.
but (afp, Reuters)