"Guatemala's Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda confirmed on Sunday that seven National Civil Police (PNC) officers have been killed in a series of attacks carried out in different municipalities across the country over the weekend. Villeda claimed during a press conference in Guatemala City that the armed attacks were carried out by 'gang members' in response to the authorities' crackdown on organised crime. "I am deeply saddened by the death of seven National Civil Police officers who were cowardly attacked by these terrorists in response to the actions that the State of Guatemala is carrying out against them," the minister said. Of the seven officers killed, five have been identified as Samy Ivan Lopez Garcia, Giovanni Dario, Claudia Azucena Munoz, Samuel Valentin Matulo and Fernando Alexander Batres. At least 10 other police officers were injured during the attacks. Villeda noted that security forces arrested seven suspected gang members, including William Alexander Guevara Yalibat of Barrio 18's Crazy Rich clique, and neutralised Aldo Dupie Ochoa - also known as 'El Lobo', who was considered a leader of the gang. The attacks followed unrest at the Fraijanes II, Renovacion I and Sector 11 prisons in Zone 18, where gang members partially took control last Saturday and held more than 40 people hostage, including prison guards. Addressing the situation at Renovacion I, the Interior Minister said authorities had 'regained control of the prison' and that several gang members were 'neutralised' during the operation. "We all know that for years the penitentiary system has been the ugly duckling of different governments, and in this case, the prison infrastructure is extremely poor," Villeda admitted. We have always said why they have not been removed, but we will definitely not accept this series of blackmail, and every strategy against organised crime has its reaction," stressed. The PNC remains on alert for possible attacks across the country, while Operation Sentinel will continue in Escuintla to reinforce security."