Dead and wounded in an attack attributed to organized crime in Ecuador

Five people were killed and 16 injured in an attack Sunday in Ecuador's state of Guayaquil that the government blamed on organized crime, authorities and aid agencies said.

"The mercenaries of organized crime (...) attacked us today with explosives (...) It is a declaration of war against the state," said Interior Minister Patricio Carrillo in a tweet.

The explosion, whose circumstances have not yet been clarified by the security forces, led to the destruction of eight homes and two cars, according to the relief services.

"Either we will be able to unite in order to tackle organized crime, or the price will be much higher for society," Carrillo said.

The former director of military intelligence, Mario Basminio, told AFP that the country, after years of being a transit point, had become "a haven for organized crime".

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