3 Ecuadorean police colonels under investigation following protests that left 5 dead

3 police colonels investigated in Ecuador protests

QUITO, Ecuador — Ecuadorean officials are considering possible charges against three police colonels for failing to prevent massive protests by their subordinates that left five dead.

Prosecutor Gonzalo Marco Freire tells The Associated Press that the three “should have known what their subordinates were doing.”

Freire says the colonels were detained Friday night for a 24-hour period.

An official with the prosecutor’s office told the AP that attempted murder is among the charges being considered against them following Thursday’s violence. The official was not authorized to release the information and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Police were protesting benefit cuts. President Rafael Correa said Saturday that protesters shot at his SUV and were trying to kill him.