Soccer players killed

[rslfutbolfan]

Gangsters kill six soccer players in El Salvador

AP
Wednesday, January 25, 2006



SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) - President Tony Saca on Monday condemned the killing of six soccer players by gang members over the weekend and asked legislators to give him tools to combat the problem.

Saca wants Congress to approve laws that would protect the identity of witnesses who testify against gang members; currently, they must confront them in court.

"I have never thought that we should let down our guard," on gang violence, Saca told a news conference.

Gang members opened fire on a group of amateur soccer players Sunday afternoon in Zacatecoluca in central El Salvador, killing six. Spectators attacked one of the assailants and killed him.

Police said they have arrested nine of the 15 gunmen, who allegedly belong to MS-18, one of Central America's most brutal gangs.

Saca said the assailants came to kill one of the soccer players because he refused to join the gang. It was unclear if he was among those killed.

Central American leaders have been developing a common plan for battling their growing gang problem, which began as the US began deporting Salvadoran gang members in the 1990s. Many of the gangs have become increasingly violent, even beheading victims, and have threatened reprisals against officials who crack down on them.

[beaveman]

Originally Posted by rslfutbolfan

Police said they have arrested nine of the 15 gunmen, who allegedly belong to MS-18, one of Central America's most brutal gangs.

I served my mission in Guatemala and everyone talked about the "dieziocho" (18) gang down there - I knew they were violent, but had no idea they were this bad!