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Police investigate explosive envelopes to 4 media outlets in Ecuador
Posted On 20 Mar 2023
Javier Chango Llerena, National Chief of Criminalistics of the National Police, explained that so far, they have indications of the arrival of “envelopes with presumed explosive devices” in two media outlets in Guayaquil and two in Quito; plus a parcel company. He said it this Monday, March 20, 2023, in statements to various media outlets in Guayaquil.
Police will carry out an analysis in the laboratory of the evidence found in Ecuavisa.
The National Police officer mentioned that Ecuavisa and TC Televisión are in Guayaquil, Plus the parcel company. While in Quito two media are being investigated: El Universo and Teleamazonas.
What happened in Ecuavisa? The national head of Criminalistics explained that the indications were raised in the channel, located in Cerro del Carmen (Guayaquil), to identify what happened. In that framework, a computer was found that had a USB device, which is presumed to have an explosive charge.
Once the device entered, he said, through a five-volt charge, activation occurred. “USB has had a starter capsule. We presume it’s an RDX, the explosive. We are going to do the analysis in the laboratory to confirm or rule out the possibility that it is this load and we have processed the scene”.
Also, he mentioned that this explosive is of a military type. “They are centimeter-long capsules with a charge. From what we verified, the explosion of half of the small capsule artifact occurs. Therefore, there is no affectation. If it had been activated, it could have been higher”.
In addition, he pointed out that the envelope contained the name of the journalist. In view of this, the analysis of the envelope will be carried out. “Fingerprints etc will be analysed.”
Chango additionally detailed the types of USB used for these purposes. “The devices are known as ‘USB killer’ and are used in different ways. In some cases, it is used to disable or burn the equipment or computer. Others capture information and there are also those with an explosive charge. The latter are called ‘rubber ducky’”.
What is the state of health of the journalist? Regarding the journalist Lenín Artieda, who received the yellow envelope, Chango pointed out that he is in good health. He “He has a problem in his hand and a small affectation on his face, but he is not serious.”
