(CNN Spanish) –– The Ecuavisa TV channel reported that journalist Lenin Artieda suffered an attack with an explosive hidden in a flash drive or portable memory this Monday. No injuries or damage were reported. For its part, the Prosecutor’s Office confirmed through its Twitter account that it is on the site and begins an investigation. The device was in an envelope that the journalist opened and, when he inserted it into his computer, he detonated in the middle of the Ecuavisa newsroom in Guayaquil.
On the other hand, a second envelope with an explosive was sent last week to TC Televisión, according to the outlet. The channel reported that they received the package addressed to journalist Mauricio Ayora with a device on Friday, but they had not opened it until Monday. Milton Pérez, executive producer and presenter of Teleamazonas, confirmed what happened and shared with CNN a photo of the note and the flash drive. The message says: “This information will unmask correísmo. If you think it’s useful, we can come to an agreement and I’ll send you the second part. I communicate with you”.
After learning about the attack in Ecuavisa, the Ecuadorian government indicated in a statement that it “categorically rejects all kinds of violent acts perpetrated against journalists or the media.” The Minister of Government, Henry Cucalón, condemned this attack on Twitter. Hours later, when what happened was broadcast on TC Televisión, the Ecuadorian government shared the tweet of the Vice Minister of Governance, Mario Cuvi, who expressed solidarity with both journalists. Cuvi expressed: “All our support to the media in the face of these intimidation against freedom of expression.” Likewise, the group of communicators Fundamedios has joined the repudiation after the attacks.
