Environment and Energy Minister Ines Manzano, who submitted the official report on the presidential assassination attempt, said Novoa’s motorcade was surrounded by about 500 protesters, who threw stones at him, and five people were detained.
Novoa’s office said those arrested would be processed on charges of terrorism and attempted assassination. Reuters could not independently confirm whether shots were fired at the president’s car during protests over the president’s repeal of fuel subsidies last month.
Speaking later at a student event in Cuenca, about 77 kilometers south of the attack site, Noboa said the government would not tolerate such behavior.
“Do not follow the bad example of those who tried to prevent us from participating in this event with you or who tried to attack us,” he said. “Such attacks are unacceptable in the new Ecuador, and the law applies to everyone.”
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