Pen drive with bomb exploded when inserted into USB port, injuring journalist

Ecuadorian police have been investigating since Monday (20) attack on presenter Lenin Artieda TV Ecuavisaat the station’s studio in Guayaquil. Xavier Chango Llerena, head of criminal investigations of the Ecuadorian National Police, said at a press conference that the journalist was injured after connecting an incoming flash drive to his computer.

Without identifying Artieda by name, the researcher revealed that the presenter had minor injuries to her hand and face. but in good health. For Llerena, it was supposedly activated by an electrical charge received when the explosive device was plugged into the PC’s USB port. The flash drive is believed to contain RDX, or cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, a military explosive.

In addition to the flash drive sent to TV Ecuavista, police officials detected envelopes with alleged explosives at four stations and a delivery company, two in Guayaquil and two in the capital, Quito.

WE INFORM

Details on investigation steps @PoliciaEcuadoragainst attacks on communication tools (explosive devices) #GYE.

LIVE?? https://t.co/MsF8aeDjGe pic.twitter.com/EGdykKsKPr

— Police Ecuador (@PoliciaEcuador) 20 March 2023

What does the Ecuadorian government say?

According to GISIn addition to the letter bomb sent to Lenin Artieda, Ecuador’s Minister of the Interior, Juan Zapata, Equatorothers were sent to reporters: Mauricio Ayora, Turkish Television; Carlos Vera from local communication tools; from Milton Perez teleamazonas; and on the radio Miguel Rivadeneria EXA.

Because of the similarity between the five cases, The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched a unique investigation into terrorism, a crime punishable by up to 13 years in prison in the country. “There is definitely a clear message to silence or silence journalists who are strong in their own way,” said Zapata.

Guayaquil, the country’s largest city and main port for exporting cocaine to Europe, has been the scene of fierce fighting between drug trafficking gangs. The Ecuadorian government said in a statement that it “categorically rejects all forms of violence against journalists and the media”.