Ecuador politician murder suspects are Colombian, police say

Authorities have announced six people – all Colombians – have been arrested in connection with the killing of Ecuador’s presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio – who was shot dead as he left a campaign event in the capital Quito. 

A seventh suspect died from wounds in a shootout with police on Thursday. 

The interior minister said a police investigation into the “abominable event” was underway. 

The six detained have been identified as Andres M, Jose N, Eddy G, Camilo R, Jules C, and Jhon Rodriguez, Interior Minister Juan Zapata told a press conference on Thursday.

He said during the police raid that resulted in their arrest, cops found a rifle, a submachine gun, four pistols, three grenades, four boxes of ammunition, two motorbikes, and a vehicle that had been reported stolen in the group’s possession.

No motive has been identified yet. 

Fernando Villavicencio was one of the few presidential candidates to allege links between corruption and government officials.