20 U.S.-Designated Barrio 18 Terrorists Escape Guatemala Supermax; U.S. Embassy Demands Recapture

Twenty convicted members of the U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization Barrio 18 escaped Guatemala’s maximum-security Fraijanes II prison after “evading security controls,” according to officials. Investigators suspect insider assistance and opened a corruption probe into prison staff following a prior intelligence warning. The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala condemned the jailbreak, warned that aiding fugitives will carry consequences, and urged immediate recapture. The incident heightens regional security concerns given Barrio 18’s cross-border footprint and history of extreme violence.