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

The Guardian World News
by Reuters
April 22, 2026
2 min read

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El Salvador is conducting a mass trial for 486 alleged MS-13 gang members under controversial emergency powers.

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A Salvadoran court on Tuesday began a collective trial for 486 alleged members of the MS-13 gang, marking one of the largest mass trials under President Nayib Bukele’s anti-gang crackdown. Prosecutors accuse the alleged gang members of committing over 47,000 crimes between 2012 and 2022, including a particularly violent weekend that was El Salvador's bloodiest since its civil war. This collective prosecution is occurring under controversial emergency powers implemented by the Bukele administration. Human rights groups have warned that these mass trials violate due process and prevent defendants from accessing legal counsel.

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El Salvadoran courts are holding a collective trial for 486 alleged MS-13 gang members.

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