A mass trial of 486 suspected MS-13 gang leaders has begun in El Salvador, the country's attorney general's office has said. The group are collectively accused of committing more than 47,000 crimes—including murder, extortion, drug and arms trafficking—between 2012 and 2022. Among those on trial are individuals alleged to have been involved in a wave of gang violence in March 2022, which saw 87 people killed in one weekend, and led President Nayib Bukele to declare a 'war on gangs'.
The attorney general's office did not provide details on the length of the trial, but stated they have 'compelling' evidence to support maximum penalties for those found guilty. MS-13 is a transnational gang designated as a terrorist organization by the US last year, originally formed in Los Angeles during the 1980s by immigrants from El Salvador’s civil war, but its influence has since expanded in Central America.
The attorney general's office noted that the gang has instilled fear and trauma in Salvadoran families for years, with charges against the suspects also including femicide and disappearances. Furthermore, the accused are charged with 'rebellion for attempting to maintain territorial control to establish a parallel state'. Of the 486, 413 suspects are already in custody, with arrest warrants for 73 others prosecuting in absentia.
In September 2022, a controversial state of emergency was declared, expanding police powers to arrest suspects and leading to tens of thousands of arrests, although human rights groups criticized it for resulting in arbitrary detentions. Legal changes have also facilitated mass trials in the country.
The attorney general's office did not provide details on the length of the trial, but stated they have 'compelling' evidence to support maximum penalties for those found guilty. MS-13 is a transnational gang designated as a terrorist organization by the US last year, originally formed in Los Angeles during the 1980s by immigrants from El Salvador’s civil war, but its influence has since expanded in Central America.
The attorney general's office noted that the gang has instilled fear and trauma in Salvadoran families for years, with charges against the suspects also including femicide and disappearances. Furthermore, the accused are charged with 'rebellion for attempting to maintain territorial control to establish a parallel state'. Of the 486, 413 suspects are already in custody, with arrest warrants for 73 others prosecuting in absentia.
In September 2022, a controversial state of emergency was declared, expanding police powers to arrest suspects and leading to tens of thousands of arrests, although human rights groups criticized it for resulting in arbitrary detentions. Legal changes have also facilitated mass trials in the country.
