Five arrested after alleged ‘assassination attempt’ on Ecuador President Noboa

Five individuals have been arrested following an alleged assassination attempt on Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa, according to Energy Minister Ines Manzano.

The incident occurred as President Noboa was traveling in a convoy to Cañar province to announce a set of infrastructure projects. According to Manzano, a crowd of approximately 500 people surrounded the convoy and began throwing rocks at the vehicles. Although the president was unharmed, signs of bullet damage were later discovered on his car.

“We will not allow this,” Manzano stated, confirming that a formal report of attempted assassination had been filed. “Shooting at the president’s car, throwing stones, damaging state property – that’s just criminal.”

Authorities say the five suspects will face charges of terrorism and attempted murder.

A video released by the Ecuadorian presidency showed hundreds of people lining the road, many waving, shouting, and rushing toward the motorcade. Projectiles were thrown at the vehicles, with some windows visibly cracked. In the footage, a voice can be heard urgently warning passengers to take cover.

This is not the first time President Noboa’s motorcade has come under attack. In September, a similar incident occurred in Imbabura province when roughly 350 individuals assaulted a convoy carrying the president and several diplomats. That attack involved rocks, fireworks, and Molotov cocktails, according to officials.

These violent confrontations come amid rising tensions across Ecuador, driven by widespread public anger over the government’s plan to end fuel subsidies. The policy shift, aimed at reducing public spending, curbing fuel smuggling, and increasing funding for social programs, has sparked protests led primarily by Indigenous communities.

In recent weeks, demonstrators have blocked highways and clashed with security forces. One protest last week resulted in the death of a civilian and injuries to several others.

While the government has accused “terrorist groups” of infiltrating the demonstrations, protest leaders argue that authorities are using excessive force to suppress legitimate dissent. Indigenous representatives have also criticized the administration for allowing large-scale mining and oil drilling on ancestral lands without adequate consultation.

President Noboa, who has been pushing through several controversial reforms, now faces growing unrest and security concerns as political tensions continue to escalate across the country