President Bukele seeks emergency powers after firearm killings soar in El Salvador

The move comes after El Salvadoran police reported that 62 people were killed on Saturday alone.

“This Saturday, March 26, has closed with 62 homicides in the country. We will not back down in the war against gangs, we will not rest until the criminals responsible for these events are captured and brought to justice,” the National Civil Police posted on Twitter.

Este sábado 26 de marzo ha cerrado con 62 homicidios en el país.

No retrocederemos en esta #GuerraContraPandillas, no vamos a descansar hasta capturar y llevar ante la justicia a los criminales responsables de estos hechos. pic.twitter.com/mPDgmn1ggg

— PNC El Salvador (@PNCSV) March 27, 2022

In response to killings, Bukele called on the legislature to declare a state of emergency in the country.

“I request the parliament to declare a state of emergency today in accordance with article 29 of the Constitution of the Republic,” Bukele tweeted. (ILKHA)

Solicito a la @AsambleaSV decretar hoy mismo REGIMEN DE EXCEPCION, de acuerdo al artículo 29 de la Constitución de la República.

— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) March 27, 2022