Mass trial of hundreds of alleged MS-13 gang members underway in El Salvador

A mass trial involving approximately 220 alleged members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang is currently taking place at the CECOT jail in El Salvador.

The defendants face accusations related to more than 29,000 murders.

The trial is being held in the main hall of the CECOT prison, located southeast of San Salvador.

The accused are seated in rows, wearing white T-shirts and shorts, and are reportedly shackled and shaved.

The hearing is part of a broader government crackdown on gangs.

Among those on trial are about 20 alleged gang leaders and numerous lieutenants, some with distinctive tattoos on their faces, heads, hands, and necks.

Witnesses have testified to acts of extreme violence, including torture and murder, with some describing victims being taken to remote locations and killed.

President Nayib Bukele has publicly compared the mass trial to the Nuremberg trials of Nazi leaders, framing it as a key element of his administration's "war" on gangs.

The government has invited journalists to observe the proceedings under strict security measures.

The trial has drawn criticism from human rights groups, which warn that the mass nature of the hearings could lead to wrongful convictions and that innocent individuals may be caught up in the process.

Security at the trial is tight, with guards in full armor and riot shields overseeing the proceedings.

Testimonies have included claims that gang leaders ordered killings from within prison.

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