Second bomb defused in Quito in five days leaves one injured
Ecuador's police force detonated a explosive device in a controlled manner in northern Quito, near the Ministry of Agriculture. It is the second bomb neutralised in five days.
Second controlled explosion in northern Quito in less than a week
Ecuador's police force detonated a explosive device in a controlled manner on Monday in northern Quito, in an area where the Ministry of Agriculture and the Mining Regulation and Control Agency (Arcom) operate, according to authorities. The operation left one person injured.
According to udgtv.com, it is the second bomb neutralised by security forces in five days. The previous Thursday, a similar device was defused outside a judicial complex, also in the north of the Ecuadorian capital.
"A controlled explosion was carried out (...) to neutralise the device and safeguard the safety of the public," the police said on social media.
The bomb was left in the early morning hours near the building where Arcom operates. The agency confirmed in a statement that its facilities "were the target of an explosive attack, which caused material damage to the main building and nearby properties". It added that a member of the security team "was affected by the blast wave and received prompt attention, and is now out of danger". A petrol station also operates near the site.
On the outskirts of Quito, a completely burnt-out vehicle was also found which, according to Major Jorge Pastor, head of the police's Motorised Operations unit, would be related to Monday's incident.
The attacks take place amid an escalation of violence by organised crime gangs that are fighting each other and the state. A judicial sector association reported that approximately 40 employees of the justice system were murdered in the last six years.
With support from the United States, President Daniel Noboa's government maintains an offensive against these organisations, which dispute control of drug trafficking and illegal mining. According to the Mining Chamber, between 60% and 70% of gold production in the country is illegal and generates over 1.6 billion dollars annually.
According to Insight Crime, Ecuador recorded a murder rate of 51 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025, which equates to one per hour, making it one of the most violent countries in Latin America.
Source: Google News EC — Crime