A wave of coordinated gang violence which left ten police officers dead has prompted the government of Guatemala to declare a thirty-day state of emergency. The attacks began with riots at three prisons, where members of the Barrio 18 gang took guards hostage, and quickly spread to targeted killings of police in and around Guatemala City. Violence escalated after authorities regained control of a prison holding the gang’s leader, Aldo ‘El Lobo’ Duppie. In response, emergency measures now allow expanded police powers, including arrests without warrants for suspected gang members and restrictions on movement and demonstrations. The nation has mourned fallen officers amid heightened security and widespread fear. The unrest highlights ongoing struggles with organised crime, prison control, and public safety, as gangs continue to exert influence both inside prisons and on the streets.