The weekend between August 10 and 11 was marked by a series of 15 armed attacks, which resulted in the 10 people died and 7 others were injuredAlthough it is still premature to establish the exact causes of these events, lethal violence in Guatemala continues, as demonstrated by the most recent Diálogos report.
According to the report, which analyzes homicide and extortion figures between July 2023 and June 2024, these crimes continue to be concentrated, with the departments of Guatemala and Escuintla, followed by Izabal, Santa Rosa, Petén, Jutiapa and Chiquimula, being the most affected.
Despite a slight decrease in the total number of homicides nationwide in that period, with 2,864 reported cases, more than 50 percent occurred in Guatemala and Escuintla, the report reveals.
In addition, it is noted that extortion complaints follow a similar trend. In the first half of 2024, more than 50 percent of extortion complaints were also recorded between the two regions.
Concentrated homicide figures
Of the 2,864 homicides reported between July 2023 and June 2024according to data from the National Civil Police (PNC), 1,588 occurred in these two departmentsrepresenting the 55 percent of that total.
Next are the regions of Izabal, Santa Rosa, Petén, Jutiapa and Chiquimula.
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In the department of Guatemalaat the municipal level, in addition to the Guatemala Cityhomicides are concentrated in Villa Nueva, Mixco, and Escuintla, Villa Canales, Amatitlán, San Miguel Petapa, Santa Catarina Pinula and Chinautla.
While in Escuintlaa higher incidence is reported in the municipalities of Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa y Tiquisate.
In Izabalcorresponds to Morales y Puerto Barriosy Jutiapa y Chiquimulain the headers.
“These municipalities are practically the same ones that recorded more than 50% of homicides between January and December 2023 and those that have recorded a similar percentage so far in 2024,” the report states.
Most homicides during the period analyzed were committed with firearms.
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According to data from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, 83% of homicides involve this type of weapons, indicating a pattern of violence that could be associated with organized criminal groups.
Homicides committed with sharp weapons, such as knives or machetes, were less common, accounting for approximately 15 percent of reported cases.
Extortions continue to increase
At the same time, Extortion reports have shown a significant increase.
At the departmental level, Guatemala y Escuintla also concentrates more than 50 percent of the extortion complaints filed during the first half of this year 2024.
They account for 5,863 of the 11,071 complaints, that is, 53% of the national total.
At the municipal level, the 14 municipalities with the highest number of complaints are Guatemala City, Villa Nueva, Mixco, Villa Canales, San Miguel Petapa, Santa Catarina Pinula, Chinautla and San Jose Pinula.
As well as Puerto Barrios in Izabal and Barberena in Santa Rosaamong others.
Additional data in the report include reports of violence against women, which have also shown an increase in recent years.
Between January and June 2024, 6,358 complaints were reported, which represents an increase compared to the same period of the previous year.
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