Guatemalan President Escapes Assassination Attempt

Last Saturday, a gunman opened fire on several soldiers sitting outside a security checkpoint that was meant to protect Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei.

According to reports, the Guatemalan army was stationed outside a checkpoint that was acting as a perimeter of security for the president.

A car speedily approached the perimeter however and rang out multiple rounds of gunfire.

The president wasn’t harmed in any way and one man was wounded but is suspected to make a full recovery.

JUST IN 🚨 The president of Guatemala, Alejandro Giammattei, escapes assassination attempt – reports

— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) July 30, 2022

ABC News has more details to add:

One man was wounded Saturday after gunmen opened fire on soldiers at a checkpoint providing area security for a visit by Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei to a town near the Mexican border.

Rubén Téllez, a spokesman for the Guatemalan army, said soldiers were working a highway checkpoint intended to act as perimeter security for the presidential visit to La Laguna, a town in Huehuetenango province.

Téllez said a car approached the checkpoint and its occupants then opened fire on soldiers, who returned fire.

One man, possibly a Mexican, was shot in the legs during the incident and was taken for medical treatment.

It does not appear that Giammattei was ever in danger, was the target of the attack or was anywhere near the shooting.

The area is frequented by human traffickers and drug smugglers, many of whom work for Mexican gangs.

1/2 Less than a week after meeting Zelensky🇺🇦, the Guatemalan🇬🇹 President’s day was interrupted by gunfire.

I’m not saying it’s linked to Russia🇷🇺, but also today… https://t.co/BCloMlTtmj

— Jason Jay Smart (@officejjsmart) August 1, 2022

https://twitter.com/GDarkconrad/status/1553482269905588229

RNZ had more details to add:

Guatemalan military exchanged fire with the passengers of a car as it approached the location of President Alejandro Giammattei’s entourage on Saturday, though the president was elsewhere and was unharmed, an army spokesman said.

Military officials stopped the vehicle as it neared a checkpoint guarding the presidential delegation during a visit by Giammattei to the area of Huehuetenango, 300 kilometres east of Guatemala City, the spokesman said.

The occupants of the car opened fire on the soldiers, who returned fire. Giammattei was about 2km away at the time.

“We inform the people of Guatemala and the international community that the president is unharmed and was evacuated from the area in a timely manner,” a government statement said.