Ecuador's president Daniel Noboa came out without injury after his presidential convoy was attacked by stone-throwing protesters and what authorities characterized as possible shots.
Noboa was opening a water treatment plant in central Ecuador when his convoy was set upon by a sizeable crowd demonstrating against increasing energy costs.
Approximately 500 people appeared and were throwing stones at him, and there are obviously bullet marks on the official vehicle
stated Ecuador's environment minister.
Authorities reported that five people were arrested and would face court proceedings on terrorism charges – an crime carrying a maximum punishment of 30 years in prison.
Recorded material made public by the administration depicts protesters standing in the street, covered in flags, scrambling to gather large stones and building blocks.
As the official vehicle drove by, projectiles thudded into the exterior and broke windows.
A voice could be heard yelling: "Heads down! Get down!" as the car accelerated from the scene.
Officials said they were still investigating whether some of the damage on Noboa's protected vehicle were resulted from gunfire.
The alleged attack came amid days of progressively aggressive demonstrations sparked by a administration's move to raise diesel prices.
Protesters have initiated work stoppages, blocked roads and abducted 16 soldiers – who were eventually released unharmed.
Ecuador's biggest native group stated that a demonstrator had been fatally injured by security personnel during one of the protests.
Over 100 people, including protesters and law enforcement, are thought to have been hurt in the unrest.
Noboa has declared a emergency measures across several regions.
Noboa's office said on digital platforms after the incident that "cowardly acts will not deter" the president.
A senior official of the Organization of American States commented that "these actions are an attack on democracy, peace, and the principle of peaceful coexistence that must dominate in our nations."
The recently re-elected president is attempting to reduce diesel subsidies to conserve about $1bn in government spending, diverting a significant portion of the funds to safety initiatives.
Ecuador, previously regarded one of the region's most secure countries, has seen a dramatic surge in violence in the past few years.
Strategically located between Colombia and Peru, two of the world's largest drug manufacturers, the country has become a significant transportation center for illegal drugs.
Authorities have accused cartels of fueling the protests, implying that illegal organizations are taking advantage of the demonstrations to disrupt the nation.
Reports indicate that seventy percent of the world's illegal drug market passes through Ecuador, a large portion of it destined for the United States.
This business has drawn international criminal organizations, including Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, Italy's 'Ndrangheta, and Albanian criminal networks.
The rivalry for control of smuggling corridors has transformed the nation into one of the area's most dangerous locations.
Noboa has called for a referendum to allow the presence of American military to the country, overturning a 2009 ban on international military installations.
Elara is a writer and life coach passionate about sharing stories of transformation and resilience.
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