At least seven people were killed in a mass shooting in Ecuador&rsquo;s northwestern province of Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, local media reported.
According to reports, several armed men dressed in black stormed a billiard hall in Santo Domingo on Sunday and opened fire on those inside. Police later confirmed that the victims included a retired officer and an alleged gang leader known as &ldquo;Rasta.&rdquo;
Authorities said the province, located between the Andes and the Pacific coast, has become a hotspot for violent clashes due to its strategic location along drug trafficking routes.
This attack follows a wave of shootings across Ecuador. In June, at least eight people were gunned down in Guayaquil&rsquo;s Pascuales district, where victims included motorcycle taxi drivers. The city, one of the country&rsquo;s most violent, has been under a state of emergency since April amid rising gang-related killings.
Officials believe the escalating bloodshed is tied to drug trafficking rivalries and recent weapons seizures, raising fresh concerns over Ecuador&rsquo;s security crisis.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]
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Gunmen attack billiard hall in Santo Domingo, killing seven in Ecuador’s latest attack

Seven killed in Ecuador’s Santo Domingo attack

Gunmen attack billiard hall in Santo Domingo, killing seven in Ecuador’s latest attack

August 18, 2025 | 14:46 IST