The Ecuadorian government has confirmed that President Daniel Noboa was the target of an assassination attempt during a violent protest in which hundreds of demonstrators attacked his convoy with stones and, allegedly, gunfire. According to officials, the incident occurred while the president was traveling through an area affected by ongoing demonstrations against the government’s decision to eliminate diesel subsidies.
Environment Minister Inés Manzano reported on Tuesday that President Noboa escaped unharmed, despite his armored vehicle sustaining visible damage. “Around 500 people showed up and began throwing stones. There are clearly bullet holes in the president’s car,” Manzano told reporters. The government released a video allegedly filmed from inside one of the vehicles in the presidential convoy.
The footage shows masked protesters covered in flags, picking up stones and bricks to throw as the motorcade passes. Projectiles can be seen striking the windows while a voice inside the vehicle shouts, “Heads down! Heads down!” Authorities have launched an official investigation to determine whether the damage to the president’s car was caused by actual gunfire or solely by thrown objects.
Minister Manzano described the incident as an “assassination attempt” and confirmed that five suspects have been taken into custody. This is not the first time President Noboa has faced a similar threat — a comparable attack occurred last September amid growing political tensions. The protests, which have intensified in recent weeks, stem from the government’s controversial decision to abolish diesel subsidies, a move that sparked outrage among transport unions and low-income communities.
Officials have accused drug cartels and criminal groups of fueling the unrest to destabilize the country. President Noboa, who took office pledging to restore national security and strengthen law enforcement, now faces one of the most serious challenges of his administration — maintaining stability amid rising violence and social unrest.
