Guatemalan lawmaker and three police officers killed in armed attack

A Guatemalan lawmaker and three police officers have been killed in an armed attack, according to the country’s authorities. The attack on Friday targeted Congressman Julio Portillo, who was in the town of Rio Hondo, in the eastern Zacapa department, which is known for drug trafficking activity. Portillo was initially taken to a hospital with serious injuries.

His death was ‌later confirmed by the National Unity of Hope party, or UNE, to which he belonged. “President Luis Contreras, members of the Board of Directors and lawmakers mourn the tragic passing of Congressman Julio Cesar Portillo Paz, representative of the Zacapa district,” Guatemala’s Congress posted late Friday on X. President Bernardo Arevalo said the three National Civil Police officers killed in the attack had died in the line of duty and instructed security forces to ⁠cooperate with prosecutors investigating the killings.

Portillo won his seat in 2023 for the opposition party Cabal, but has since switched to the National Unity of Hope party led by former First Lady Sandra Torres.