Ecuador president unharmed in attack on motorcade

QUITO: Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa escaped unharmed after his motorcade was targeted by stone-hurling protesters and what one minister described as a volley of gunshots Tuesday.

Noboa was inaugurating a water treatment plant in central Ecuador when his motorcade was set on by a large group protesting rising fuel prices.

“About 500 people showed up and were throwing stones at him, and there are obviously bullet marks on the president’s car as well,” said Environment Minister Ines Manzano.

She said that five people were arrested and would stand trial on terrorism charges – an offense carrying a maximum punishment of 30 years behind bars.

“This kind of protests, which are not peaceful, are not what we need,” Manzano added.

Video released by the government, reportedly filmed from inside the motorcade, shows protesters standing in the road, draped in flags, scrambling to collect large stones and bricks.

As the presidential SUV passed, projectiles thudded into the paneling and shattered windows.

A voice can be heard shouting, “Heads down! Heads down!” as the vehicle sped away.

Officials said they were still investigating whether some of the impact marks on Noboa’s armored Chevrolet Suburban were caused by gunfire.