Five people, including a child, were executed at a New Year's gathering in El Salvador early on Friday, while five gang members died in a highway shootout with police, an official said.
10 killed in gang-related violence
El Salvador's murder rate surged 70 percent in 2015 to one of the highest in the world due to increasing battles between rival gangs and security forces.
In this March 7, 2014 file photo, a member of the Salvadoran National Police walks next to graffiti of the Mara Salvatrucha gang painted on a wall.
Recommended articles
A group of men dressed in dark, military-style garb and armed with assault rifles broke into two homes during New Year's parties and killed five people, including a woman and a child, in the city of San Miguel, 85 miles (136 km) east of the capital, according to a police spokesman.
The massacre may be gang related, since the neighborhood is controlled by the Mara Salvatrucha, the spokesman said. Security officials have said that gang members frequently dress in military or police uniforms when they carry out killings.
Another five alleged gang members were killed when they opened fire on police with revolvers and shotguns after being stopped in a taxi at a highway checkpoint in the southwestern municipality of Olocuilta, the spokesman said.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
Recommended articles
33 states at high risk of flooding problems between July and September
71-year-old Putin extends reign as Russian president to 2030, sworn in for 5th term
Sanwo-Olu wants Lagosians to be friendly to corps members
Governor Adeleke vows to invest in Ile-Ife and restore its lost glory
Tech industry gets green push as NGO unveils eco-friendly initiative
Senate creates committee to investigate Abuja Centenary City project delay
NNPC assures over 30-day fuel supply, urges motorists against panic buying
Presidency gives fresh update on Tinubu's return date from foreign trip
Adeleke laments poor infrastructure, promises to revive Ile-Ife's legacy
Pulse Sports
Chelsea set to offer Romelu Lukaku and cash for Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen
Mikel Obi: Super Eagles legend goes viral speaking Hausa
Anthony Joshua: Nigerian-born boxer teams up with Mariah Carey, Naomi Campbell and Cuppy in France
ADVERTISEMENT
![33 passengers and one crew member died on the dive boat, Conception [Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/AP]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'300'%20height%3D'172'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "33 passengers and one crew member died on the dive boat, Conception [Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/AP]")