Car Bomb Explodes Outside Shopping Mall in Guayaquil

• Car bomb attack in Guayaquil: Two car bombs detonated
• Government labels it terrorism
• Los Lobos suspected of responsibility

According to CNN, a new car bomb attack shook Ecuador on Tuesday after a vehicle packed with explosives detonated outside a shopping mall in the city of Guayaquil.

The incident, which initially reported no confirmed deaths, has been described by Ecuadorian authorities as a “terrorist attack” amid a surge of violence linked to organized crime.

The explosion occurred in a busy commercial area of Guayas province, heightening public fear and prompting authorities to immediately evacuate the area.

Witnesses said the blast was so powerful that it was heard several kilometers away, causing panic among drivers and pedestrians nearby.

Car bomb attack in Guayaquil sparks panic

Car bomb explodes outside a shopping mall in Guayaquil https://t.co/FXemSG83Hg

— Reseñas (@resenasconrn_) October 15, 2025

Interior Minister John Reimberg confirmed that the explosion was a coordinated attack using high-grade explosives.

He also revealed that a second car bomb was discovered and successfully defused before detonation, preventing an even greater tragedy.

“This is a terrorist act,” Reimberg stated in public remarks after the attack.

The minister emphasized that the device was not homemade, but rather assembled with professional-grade materials commonly used by criminal networks with advanced operational capacity.

Government declares terrorism threat

#ATTENTION
Following the events in Guayaquil, the National Police are working around the clock to counter the threat and find those responsible for this terrorist act.

One vehicle detonated, while the second contained a significant amount of explosives.

— John Reimberg (@JohnReimberg) October 15, 2025

“This was not a handmade explosive. These were professionally built devices made by organized criminal groups intent on spreading chaos,” Reimberg wrote on X.

He told local media that, based on early investigations, the Los Lobos criminal organization was likely behind the car bombing, “in retaliation for the destruction of illegal mining operations in Buenos Aires,” a region in Ecuador’s Imbabura province.

Shortly before Reimberg’s statement, the Ministry of Defense posted on social media that, “Illegal mining in Buenos Aires has ended — the Armed Forces will maintain a permanent presence from now on.”

The Governor of Guayas province, Humberto Plaza, condemned the event as “pure terrorism” intended to cause maximum casualties and destruction.

Car bomb attack in Guayaquil linked to Los Lobos

#VIRAL🔥 #Ecuador: Car bomb detonates outside a mall in #Guayaquil 💥

➡️ At least one dead and several injured.pic.twitter.com/DLVcg5maIN

— El Piñero| Periodismo y Debate (@ELPINERO) October 15, 2025

“They placed this explosive in a busy area at rush hour, as people were leaving work,” Plaza emphasized.

He added that authorities would capture and prosecute those responsible for terrorism under Ecuadorian law.

The explosion site was quickly evacuated and cordoned off as police collected evidence and interviewed witnesses.

The Attorney General’s Office reviewed security footage from nearby cameras to assist the investigation.

Explosives built with professional materials

Guayas Prefect Marcela Aguiñaga expressed deep frustration at the ongoing wave of violence, saying she was “tired of condolences” and demanded concrete government action.

“Guayaquil is burning, and nothing happens? We are tired of condolences. We need action. What we are living is a national tragedy that has been bleeding us dry for too long.

If we don’t act now, there will be nothing left of this tricolor turned into a mass grave,” Aguiñaga declared.
Guayaquil Mayor Aquiles Álvarez also condemned the situation:

“Some plant the bombs, and others free them from jail if they’re caught. They have no limits. Their next targets will be places full of children and women. They can’t stand that Guayaquileños refuse to live in fear,” he said.

Car bomb retaliation: a second explosion reported

Hours later, on Wednesday morning, the Guayas Prefecture reported another car bomb explosion in a different part of the province.

“Following the alert of a car bomb explosion on the Churute Bridge, the road has been closed from kilometer 26 toward Naranjal.
We ask for understanding and cooperation as authorities continue their operations,” the Prefecture announced.

CNN confirmed that it has contacted police officials for updates on whether new victims have been reported.

Ecuador under siege

Meanwhile, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Roberto Luque, revealed that two more explosive devices were found on highways connecting Guayas province to Machala and Cuenca in southern Ecuador.

Ecuador has suffered multiple car bomb attacks in recent months, reflecting a deepening security crisis tied to organized crime.

The car bomb attack in Guayaquil has reignited national fear and placed pressure on the government to act decisively against Los Lobos gang and other violent criminal factions destabilizing the country.