QUITO (Reuters) – Ecuador presidential candidate Otto Sonnenholzner stated a shoot-out occurred on Saturday exterior a restaurant the place he and his household have been consuming, a day earlier than the election and never lengthy after one other candidate was assassinated.
“We simply suffered a shoot-out in entrance of the place the place I used to be breakfasting with my household,” Sonnenholzner, a pro-market candidate and former vice chairman stated on X, the platform beforehand often known as Twitter. “Thank God we’re all nicely however we demand an investigation into what occurred.”
Ecuadoreans head to the polls on Sunday to elect a brand new president and legislature. Candidate Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated 10 days in the past as he was leaving a marketing campaign occasion.
A video on social media confirmed Sonnenholzner greeting a supporter in a sunny restaurant and getting ready to take a selfie, earlier than pictures sound exterior.
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The nationwide police stated they have been investigating.
Sonnenholzner has hardened his discourse round crime for the reason that homicide of Villavicencio, repeatedly promising his supporters that ought to he be elected, criminals who use violence towards residents might be shot by police.
Fellow presidential candidate Daniel Noboa on Thursday stated there was an assault on his marketing campaign caravan in Duran, however police later stated the capturing was not directed at Noboa, son of outstanding banana businessman and former presidential candidate Alvaro Noboa.
In the meantime, Francisco Tamariz, the mayor of the coastal metropolis of La Libertad, stated on X on Saturday that pictures have been fired on Friday at a truck wherein he and his spouse have been using.
Tamariz alleged police involvement. Police stated they’d maintain a press convention concerning the incident. Tamariz stated he would complain to the legal professional basic’s workplace.
The mayor of the Pacific port metropolis of Manta, Agustin Intriago, was murdered in July. The police stated on Friday morning they detained 4 folks in his killing.
(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Modifying by Cynthia Osterman)
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