STORY: Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo declared a 30-day nationwide state of siege on Sunday (January 18), after security forces freed dozens of prison guards held hostage by inmates, ending a weekend of gang violence that left at least seven police officers dead and another 10 injured.

Arevalo emphasised the state of siege would focus exclusively on combating organised crime without restricting daily life or citizen mobility, though Education Minister Anabella Giracca suspended classes nationwide on Monday (January 19) citing security concerns. Under Guatemalan law, a state of siege can temporarily limit or suspend civil liberties and expand security forces' powers in response to threats to public order.

Rioting inmates had taken 46 hostages at three men's prisons early on Saturday (January 17). The government blamed the riots on the Barrio 18 gang, which it said was pushing for greater privileges for its members in prison.

Gang-led violence targeted police in several areas of the country after security forces regained control of the prison where Barrio 18's leader, Aldo Duppie, was held. The gang leader, known as El Lobo, was taken back into custody.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: RIOT POLICE ENTERING PRISON / EMERGENCY SERVICES PERSONNEL ENTERING PRISON / SOUNDBITES FROM GUATEMALAN PRESIDENT, BERNARDO AREVALO, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (JANUARY 18, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF ANTI RIOT POLICE WITH GAS MASKS DEPLOYING OUTSIDE PRISON

2. ANTI RIOT POLICE ENTERING PRISON AFTER RIOT

GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (JANUARY 18, 2026) (GUATEMALAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all)

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GUATEMALAN PRESIDENT, BERNARDO AREVALO, SAYING:

"In retaliation for the successful operations that have recovered control of the prisons, these criminal groups have cowardly attacked the National Police in different parts of the country. These murders have been carried out with the intention of terrorising the security forces and the population so that we back down in the frontal fight against gangs and their regime of terror, but they will fail. We will not allow violence and intimidation to dictate our country's direction."

GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (JANUARY 18, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

4. VARIOUS OF ANTI RIOT POLICE MOVING IN LINE BEHIND PRISON FENCE

5. RIOT POLICE IN FULL GEAR BEHIND FENCE

GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (JANUARY 18, 2026) (GUATEMALAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all)

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GUATEMALAN PRESIDENT, BERNARDO AREVALO, SAYING:

"That's why I've decided to declare a state of siege across the entire national territory for 30 days starting today. This aims to guarantee the protection and security of citizens, while allowing us to use the full force of the state, especially the National Civil Police and the Guatemalan Army, to act against gangs and prevent their terrorist actions."

GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (JANUARY 18, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

7. EMERGENCY SERVICES PERSONNEL ENTERING PRISON

8. MEDICAL STAFF LOADING STRETCHERS INTO AMBULANCE

GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (JANUARY 18, 2026) (GUATEMALAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all)

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GUATEMALAN PRESIDENT, BERNARDO AREVALO, SAYING:

"There will be families who will be marked for life by these losses. Their pain is the pain of all Guatemala. In their honour we have decreed three days of national mourning."

GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (JANUARY 18, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

10. MEDICAL STAFF STANDING BEHIND AMBULANCE WITH FLASHING LIGHTS

11. SPOKESPERSON FOR THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, HANS LEMUS, IN FRONT OF AMBULANCE

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPOKESPERSON FOR THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, HANS LEMUS, SAYING:

"It's important to note that we've now gained access at the request of the prison system and National Civil Police agents, where we're evaluating eight prison agents who were held captive this entire time. We're checking their vital signs and deciding whether they need to be transported to a medical facility for a more complete medical evaluation."

13. FIREFIGHTERS OUTSIDE PRISON