"Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo on Sunday declared a 30-day state of siege across the country in a message to the media, following a surge of violence in prisons and clashes between gangs and the National Civil Police, which left at least seven police officers dead. "I have decided to declare a state of siege across the entire national territory for 30 days starting today. Its objective is to guarantee the protection and security of citizens, [...] to act against gangs and maras and prevent their terrorist actions," the president announced. It comes after three prisons in Guatemala – Renovacion I, the Preventive Detention Centre in Zone 18, and Fraijanes 2 Detention Centre – were partially seized by Barrio 18 and MS-13 gang members, who took 46 hostages and demanded their leaders be transferred to lower-security facilities, triggering violence inside and outside the prisons on Saturday. "These desperate groups wanted to instil terror and chaos," stated the president, noting that a joint operation by the interior and defence ministries restored 'full control' of the three prisons and freed all captives. "Subsequently, in retaliation for the successful operations that recovered control of the prisons, these criminal groups have cowardly attacked the National Police in different parts of the country," he persisted. Arevalo also declared three days of national mourning to commemorate the officers killed during the unrest. "The flag at the National Palace and at all state institutions must be flown at half-mast to remember their heroism," he added. The 30-day nationwide state of siege expands police and military powers to restore public security amid gang-linked violence, while authorities say it will not disrupt daily life or state institutions."