VIDEO: Gunmen storm live TV studio and take hostages in Ecuador after president orders national emergency over criminal gangs

Alarming video from a live television studio in Ecuador captured a group of armed criminals storming in and holding people hostage as the government tried to crack down on organized gangs.

The men wore balaclavas and mostly black garb while screaming "no police!" at cameras and firing off gunshots before the feed ended abruptly.

Police later said they stabilized the situation at the station in the city of Guayaquil and arrested 13 of the armed men. They posted photos of young men with their hands zip-tied behind their backs on social media.

National Police Commander César Zapata said that they recovered two grenades and other explosives while proclaiming that the assailants would be brought to justice for what he called “acts of terrorism.”

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa had previously issued a decree declaring 22 gangs as terrorist organizations in response to a spree of police kidnappings.

Reporter Leonardo Flores Moreno told Reuters that the men assaulted staff at another broadcaster and left dynamite before they made their way to the live television studio.

"We were in a meeting and they alerted us and we were able to hide," said Flores. "We don't know what is happening, people are nervous, there are many colleagues... who are hiding."

Another anchor said that one person was shot by the assailants but police had not confirmed that report.

The country has been rocked by prison escapes and destructive explosions that Noboa blames on the criminal gangs. Noboa took office in November and promised to crack down on drug trade-related violence. A 60-page declaration of a state of emergency allows the president to order military patrols and institute a nationwide curfew between 11 p.m. until 5 a.m.

A state prison agency said that 139 guards and other staff were being held hostage after 11 prison guards were released.

Here's video of the live attack:

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