A man believed to be British has been dragged from a police station and burned alive by a furious mob in Ecuador after being arrested in connection with a fatal shooting.
Mob storms police station
The unidentified man was taken into custody on Sunday after allegedly shooting a local man named Rodrigo Chavez in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, part of Ecuador’s Amazon region. Hours later, a crowd of around 200 armed locals stormed the police station, demanding officers hand him over.
The group, reportedly armed with guns, sticks, spears and petrol cans, threatened to set fire to the building and harm the officers inside. Despite efforts by the seven officers on duty, they were overwhelmed by the mob who dragged the suspect away.
Burned alive in broad daylight
The man was taken outside and lynched by the crowd before being set on fire in the street. He died at the scene.
Footage shared online showed the scale of the unrest, with some locals cheering as flames engulfed the man’s body.
Suspect believed to be British
Police in Ecuador say they believe the victim was a British national, but his identity has not yet been confirmed. Officials say he had been working locally as a tour guide and English teacher and had been arranging trips for tourists visiting the Amazon.
A police chief in Sucumbios province said: “We’re trying to confirm his migration status and identity. At this point, we don’t have proven information on how long he had been in the community.”
Tensions boiling over
Local police confirmed there had been previous issues between the victim and the man he was accused of killing. After his arrest, rumours quickly spread through the tight-knit community that he was being moved out of the area—prompting the violent response.
“The police did everything humanly possible to safeguard him,” the chief said. “But the size of the mob exceeded the capacities of the officers present.”
UK Foreign Office investigating
The UK Foreign Office says it is aware of the reports and is urgently seeking further information. If confirmed, it would be one of the most shocking vigilante killings involving a British citizen abroad in recent memory.
The incident took place in Cuyabeno, one of Ecuador’s largest protected areas and a popular eco-tourism destination for international travellers.
