August 14, 2015 Issue

San Salvador, El Salvador—Suspected members of the 18th Street gang are handcuffed together and presented to the media July 29. The five are accused of carrying out organized attacks against bus drivers who refused to go on a strike ordered by the gang. At least nine transportation workers have been killed, and thousands of commuters were left stranded in the Central American capital. The 18th Street gang is engaged in a prolonged drug war with rival gang MS-13, which has turned the city into one of the world’s murder capitals. June alone accounted for 677 murders. The gang is trying to use the traffic standstill to put pressure on the government, which has said it will not negotiate with criminals.