El Salvador‘s justice minister says the country’s homicide rate has fallen to about 4.4 killings a day since June, about half of 2018 levels.
The country of 6.5 million people recorded 3,340 killings in 2018, or about nine a day. The bloodiest year of 2015 saw 6,425 homicides, or 17.6 a day.
WATCH: June 19 — Mexico to launch El Salvador jobs program under Central America development plan
Justice Minister Rogelio Rivas said Friday that “homicides are declining across the country.”
- Airbus to supply 150 jets to Malaysia’s AirAsia in multibillion-dollar deal
- Mexico City nightclub charges Americans $300 cover: ‘This is a political stance’
- Hantavirus strain can spread via humans, WHO says as 62 more feared exposed
- China calls for ‘comprehensive ceasefire’ as U.S.-Iran war drags on
-
![]()
Strait of Hormuz standoff continues as Iran, U.S. both claim control -
![]()
Is Putin living mostly underground now, afraid of Ukraine’s drones and missiles striking deeper? -
![]()
Trump asked what Iran could do to violate cease-fire: ‘You’ll find out’ -
![]()
Police investigating shooting near White House involving Secret Service
Since taking office June 1, President Nayib Bukele has deployed police and soldiers to shopping and commercial areas to combat extortions, which provide 80 per cent of gangs’ incomes.
Get breaking National news
READ MORE: El Salvador finally records first day without murder in 2 years
On Friday, a court sentenced 72 Mara Salvatrucha gang members to prison terms of 260 years for a series of 22 killings in 2014 and 2015.
The sentences are symbolic, since the effective maximum is 60 years.
Comments
Comments closed.
Due to the sensitive and/or legal subject matter of some of the content on globalnews.ca, we reserve the ability to disable comments from time to time.
Please see our Commenting Policy for more.