El Salvador official says police executed gang members

Source: Associated Press

El Salvador official says police executed gang members
Apr 25, 10:01 PM EDT
By MARCOS ALEMAN
Associated Press

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) -- El Salvador's human rights prosecutor said Monday that police and soldiers used excessive force or executed presumed street gang members during two supposed confrontations in 2015.

The findings do not charge specific officers, but rather conclude that events that once were depicted as shootouts in fact may have involved executions.

The Salvadoran government has embarked on a tough crackdown on gangs, which have in turn launched attacks on police and military officers, even when they are off duty.

Human rights prosecutor David Morales said "there is serious evidence that government agents acted outside the law" in the two events.

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