02 Mar 2018 | 11:09 PM UTC
El Salvador: Gang threats disrupt bus services in San Salvador /update 1
Threats against bus drivers cause route disruptions in San Salvador; continued risk of violent crime on public transportation
Event
Harassment of bus drivers in the San Salvador suburb of Mejicanos by local gangs is causing disruptions to bus services throughout the area. Drivers have received death threats as gangs seek to stop buses from passing through the downtown area. Carriers have called on police to provide greater security along bus routes.
Context
On February 28, a gunman attacked a passenger bus in the Santa Monica neighborhood of San Salvador, killing one person and wounding two more. The assailant was arrested by Salvadoran security forces.
The country, including the capital San Salvador, continues to suffer from extremely high murder rates and other violent crime attributed to gangs, notably Barrio 18 and MS-13. El Salvador remains one of the most violent countries in the world, with more homicides registered in recent years than during the Salvadoran civil war
Advice
Some Western governments advise against using all public transportation in El Salvador, including passenger buses, and to avoid nonessential travel to various parts of the country due to security concerns. Individuals present in El Salvador are advised to maintain a low profile (conceal signs of wealth), drive with windows closed and doors locked, and keep in mind that criminals may be armed (do not resist if confronted, and do not look your attacker directly in the eye).
