On August 22, 2019, a bomb exploded in the rector’s building at the University of Guayaquil, causing damage to campus property, and leading to the evacuation of the campus by students. This was the sixth such explosion on the campus in the past year.

On September 18, state authorities took into custody six unidentified individuals suspected of carrying out the bombings at the university. Five of the suspects have reportedly been charged with terrorism-related offenses.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about violent attacks against a higher education institution. Such acts harm university autonomy and chill academic freedom by reducing the degree to which the campus is an open, free space. State authorities have a responsibility to protect higher education communities and to hold perpetrators of violent attacks accountable.

Sources:
https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/judicial/12/prision-implicados-atentados-universidad-guayaquil
https://www.larepublica.ec/blog/sociedad/2019/09/19/dictan-prision-contra-involucrados-con-explosiones-en-u-de-guayaquil/
https://www.eluniverso.com/guayaquil/2019/08/22/nota/7483389/explosion-genera-alarma-universidad-guayaquil
https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/bomba-explosion-rectorado-universidad-guayaquil.html
https://mundo.sputniknews.com/america-latina/201908241088474871-gobierno-de-ecuador-protege-a-interventores-de-universidad-de-guayaquil-tras-explosion/