Guatemala's President Bernardo Arevalo declared a 30-day nationwide state of emergency to combat criminal gangs after eight police officers were killed in retaliatory attacks following a prison standoff. This action came after authorities regained control of three prisons where gang-affiliated inmates had held 46 hostages.

• The conflict escalated after gang members killed eight police officers and wounded ten others in response to state actions.
• The state of emergency, which suspends the right of assembly and allows arrests and interrogations without court orders, must be approved by the opposition-controlled Congress.
• Authorities successfully freed 45 guards and a psychiatrist held hostage across the three prisons, including Renovacion I, Fraijanes II, and Preventivo.
• Aldo Dupie, alias "El Lobo", the alleged leader of the Barrio 18 gang in Guatemala, was arrested during the operations.