The presidential candidate of Ecuador, Otto Sonnenholzner denounced that a shooting took place in front of a place where he had breakfast with his family in Guayaquiland indicated that he and his loved ones are well.
“We have just suffered a shooting in front of the place where I was having breakfast with my family. Thank God we are all fine, but we demand an investigation into what happened. The fear and helplessness that I saw in the eyes of everyone present hurts me. We can’t go on like this. Let’s change course tomorrow!” Sonnenholzner said, referring to the elections that will take place on Sunday.
The Ecuadorian authorities reported the capture of several criminals during an assault on a sports store after a police chase outside the premises where Sonnenholzner was staying.
A video posted on social media showed the candidate posing for a photo with a follower at the same time the shooting took place.
The events occurred just ten days after the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, a staunch opponent of left-wing Correísmo.
Likewise, local police attributed the incident to a growing wave of violence in Ecuador.influenced by organized crime and drug trafficking.
Villavicencio’s murder occurred as he was leaving a campaign rally on August 9, an event that was recorded and shocked the country amid expectations for the presidential and legislative elections on Sunday.
Other politicians were the victims of shootings this year, such as Pedro Briones, an official from a party allied to Rafael Correa, who was shot dead in the province of Esmeralda.
Last month, Agustín Intriago, mayor of the city of Manta, was shot to death while talking to a sportsman on the street, and in May, the newly elected candidate to command the city of Muisne, was assassinated just before taking office.
With information from CNN
Keep reading:
– Ecuador: Local leader sympathizer of Rafael Correa shot dead
– Ecuador: party of Fernando Villavicencio, assassinated after an electoral rally, confirms new presidential candidate
– Ecuador: Rafael Correa spoke after the assassination of candidate Fernando Villavicencio after being accused of threatening phrases before the crime
