El Salvador: Gunman attacks passenger bus in San Salvador Feb. 28

Event

At approximately 18:30 (local time) on Wednesday, 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, who was attempting to rob passengers onboard the bus, was arrested by Salvadoran security forces.

Context

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).