El Salvador holds mass trial for 486 alleged members of notorious MS-13 gang

A mass trial has begun in El Salvador for 486 alleged gang members. The attorney general's office released footage showing large groups of the accused participating in the trial via video link from prison. The trial involves hundreds of individuals, marking a significant event in El Salvador's ongoing efforts to combat gang violence. The location of the trial is El Salvador, and the timing is the present day. The purpose of the trial is to prosecute the accused gang members.

A mass trial of 486 alleged MS-13 gang members began in El Salvador, accused of over 47,000 crimes between 2012 and 2022, including murder, extortion, and trafficking. The trial includes individuals allegedly involved in a surge of gang violence in March 2022 that resulted in 87 deaths. While 413 suspects are in custody, 73 are being prosecuted in absentia. The Attorney General's office claims to have compelling evidence for maximum penalties. The trial occurs within the context of a state of emergency declared in March 2022, which has led to mass arrests and criticism from human rights groups and the UN, who say it undermines due process.