Mass murder trial in El Salvador for almost 500 alleged MS-13 members
Summary
Nearly 490 alleged members of the gang MS-13 are on trial in El Salvador for thousands of crimes, including many murders. The government is conducting mass trials as part of a strict crackdown on gangs led by President Nayib Bukele, aiming to reduce violence in the country.Key Facts
- About 486 suspected MS-13 members face trial for 47,000 crimes from 2012 to 2022, including 29,000 murders.
- The trial includes top leaders, local gang leaders, and founders of MS-13.
- MS-13 is accused of trying to form a "parallel state" and committed large-scale killings, such as 87 murders over one weekend in 2022.
- President Bukele declared a "war" on gangs, claiming they controlled 80% of El Salvador’s territory before the crackdown.
- Since 2022, over 91,000 suspected gang members have been arrested under emergency powers, though some were later found innocent.
- The crackdown has greatly lowered crime rates, making El Salvador safer than before.
- Human rights groups warn the mass trials lack due process and report abuse, torture, and deaths in prison.
- MS-13 and rival gang Barrio 18 started in Los Angeles and spread to Central America, where they run criminal activities like drug trafficking and extortion.
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