Curfew imposed in North Honduras amid escalating violence

The Honduran government has imposed curfews in two northern cities amid an escalation of violence that has killed more than 20 people in separate attacks.

President Xiomara Castro announced a 15-day curfew in Choloma between 9 pm and 4 am, effective immediately, and another in San Pedro Sula, effective July 4.

“Multiple operations, raids, captures and checkpoints are initiated,” Castro said via Twitter.

Police press person Edgardo Barahona said heavily armed men opened fire on Saturday night in a billiards hall in a neighborhood in the northern manufacturing city of Choloma, killing 13 people and seriously wounding another.

He added at least 11 other murders had taken place on Saturday in separate episodes across the northern Valle de Sula zone, including in the industrial city of San Pedro Sulay.

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The attacks over the weekend follow a deadly incident earlier this week at a women’s prison near the capital Tegucigalpa that killed 46 people amid a reported break-in by gang members.

There has been a partial state of emergency in parts of Honduras since December in a bid to confront violent gangs and turf wars.

Security Minister Gustavo Sanchez announced later on Sunday that the government would be sending a proposal to Congress to “classify members of a criminal structure, maras or gangs as terrorists” in the coming days.

Speaking at a press conference, the minister added that 1,000 additional police and military are being sent to the Sula Valley, where Choloma and San Pedro Sul are located.

The government is also offering a cash reward of 800,000 Lempiras ($32,707) to help identify and capture those responsible for the killings in Choloma, the president said.