Mass trial of 492 MS-13 gang members begins in El Salvador

Salvadoran judicial authorities have initiated a mass trial involving 492 alleged members of the MS-13 gang, including founding members and high-ranking leaders. The proceedings take place four years after President Nayib Bukele implemented a state of emergency, which has led to the detention of approximately 91,000 suspects in an effort to combat criminal organizations. Prosecutors attribute 47,000 criminal acts, committed between 2012 and 2022, to 486 of the defendants. The gang is specifically accused of orchestrating the murders of 87 people during a single weekend in March 2022. The Attorney General's office has stated that it possesses sufficient evidence to pursue maximum sentencing. Recent legal reforms allow for life imprisonment for those convicted of crimes such as murder, rape, and terrorism, even in cases involving minors. Both MS-13 and the rival Barrio 18 gang have been officially classified as terrorist organizations by the state.