STORY: Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa's car was surrounded by a group of around 500 people throwing rocks as he approached an event in Canar province, a top minister said, adding that "signs of bullet damage" were found on the president's vehicle.

Environment and Energy Minister Ines Manzano spoke on Tuesday (October 7) after formally filing a report of an assassination attempt against Noboa. The president was not hurt and five people have been detained, the minister said. Noboa's office said all those arrested would be processed under charges of terrorism and attempted assassination. Reuters could not independently verify whether a bullet was fired.

A video from inside a car published by the presidency showed people throwing rocks on the side of the road and cracks on the car's window. A separate image published by the presidency showed a vehicle with smashed windows. A photograph of 37-year-old Noboa standing outside the damaged car in sunglasses was also released after the incident.

The national Indigenous federation CONAIE said orchestrated violence had broken out against the people who mobilized for Noboa's arrival, saying that elderly women were among those attacked in a "brutal police and military action."

CONAIE launched a strike action 16 days ago, organizing marches and blockading some roads, in a protest against the government ending diesel subsidies. Critics say further dialogue is needed and that the measure will increase the cost of living particularly for small-scale farmers and Indigenous communities.

Noboa signed the executive decree eliminating subsidies in mid-September, and his government declared emergency measures in several provinces to maintain order.

The government has defended ending the subsidy, which it said will free up some $1.1 billion a year that it has already begun to redistribute in compensation payments to small-scale farmers and people working in the transport sector.

Noboa, who was reelected in April, has frequently granted emergency powers to armed forces and police as part of his tough-on-crime approach to security.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: VIDEO OF ATTACK AGAINST ECUADOR PRESIDENT DANIEL NOBOA'S MOTORCADE SEEN FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE / VIDEO OF AFTERMATH OF ATTACK ON VEHICLES / STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF ATTACKED VEHICLES

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE STORY

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: PROFANITY ON SHOT #1

SHOWS: UNKNOWN, CANAR, ECUADOR (OCTOBER 7, 2025) (PRESIDENCIA ECUADOR VIA X - No resale/ No archive/ Must on-screen courtesy PRESIDENCIA ECUADOR VIA X) (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT)

1. VIDEO OF ATTACK AGAINST ECUADOR PRESIDENT DANIEL NOBOA'S MOTORCADE SEEN FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE

UNKNOWN, CANAR, ECUADOR (OCTOBER 7, 2025) (ACCION DEMOCRATICA NACIONAL - No resale/ No archive/ Must on-screen courtesy Accion Democratica Nacional) (MUTE) (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT)

2. DAMAGED VEHICLE

3. DAMAGED WINDOWS SEEN FROM INSIDE OF MOVING VEHICLE

4. VARIOUS OF DAMAGED VEHICLES

UNKNOWN, CANAR, ECUADOR (OCTOBER 7, 2025) (PRESIDENCIA ECUADOR VIA X - No resale/ No archive/ Must on-screen courtesy PRESIDENCIA ECUADOR VIA X) (MUTE)

5. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF NOBOA OUTSIDE DAMAGED VEHICLE

6. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF DAMAGE ON WHITE VEHICLE

UNKNOWN, CANAR, ECUADOR (OCTOBER 7, 2025) (ACCION DEMOCRATICA NACIONAL - No resale/ No archive/ Must on-screen courtesy Accion Democratica Nacional) (MUTE)

7. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERING NEAR ROAD, ON HILLS AS SECURITY FORCES WATCH