Honduras Crackdown: Xiomara Castro imposes curfew after more than 20 killed mass shootings

Honduras announced on Sunday that it was imposing curfews in two cities in the northern part of the country after more than 20 people were killed in separate attacks. 

On Saturday night, a group of heavily armed men opened fire in a billiards hall in the city of Choloma, where at least 13 people were killed and another was critically injured, according to police spokesperson Edgardo Barahona. The motive for the attack remains unclear. 

At least 11 other individuals were killed in several separate incidents also on Saturday across the Valle de Zula zone in the north, which includes the city of San Pedro Sula. 

In light of the killings, Honduras President Xiomara Castro announced a 15-day curfew for Choloma effective immediately and one for San Pedro Sula, effective July 4. The curfew would restrict movement between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. in both cities.

"Multiple operations, raids, captures, and checkpoints are initiated," Castro posted on Twitter. In addition, the government is offering a cash reward of up to $32,000 to help identify those involved in the killing in Choloma.   

On Sunday, Security Minister Gustavo Sanchez announced that the government was going to send a proposal to Congress to “classify members of a criminal structure, maras, or gangs, as terrorists.”

Additionally, more than 1,000 police and military members are being sent to the area of the Sula Valley, where the cities of Choloma and San Pedro Sula are located. 

Following the footsteps of neighboring El Salvador, leftist President Xiomara Castro implemented a state of emergency in the country on Dec. 6, suspending some constitutional rights in an effort to crack down against criminal organizations in the country. 

The state of emergency covers 123 local districts covering the largest population centers in Honduras. Under the strict measures, authorities can restrict freedom of movement and association, as well as search homes and arrest individuals without a warrant. 

The move comes following El Salvador’s launch of a similar operation in March of last year after 62 people were killed in 48 hours. Under the emergency measures, more than 66,417 alleged gang members have been arrested—about 2 percent of the Central American country’s entire adult population, according to government statistics.