Police 17 July confirmed spike in murders in June with 350 killings; comes despite continuing fall in reported homicides in 2017 compared with previous year. Special Prosecutor for Human Rights 3 July released report citing over 800 cases of human rights abuse involving police and army, and 22 suspected extrajudicial killings in 2016. Prosecutors late July ordered almost 600 arrests for crimes including homicide and extortion in attempted crackdown on gang activity. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions visited El Salvador 27 July for meetings related to regional anti-gang taskforce. Corruption allegations against politicians from ruling and opposition parties continued. Facing prospect of mass deportations of its citizens by U.S., govt late June drafted legal framework to control returned gang members; official sources say four to five high-ranking gang members returning to country every day.

Police 22 June reported 318 homicides during month, 40 more than May, making it deadliest month so far of 2017; homicide rate reached thirteen murders per day. Victims included nine relatives of security force members in first half June and targeted killings of police officers in alleged operations by gang members. Justice Minister 22 June declared spike in violence related to internal fights in MS-13 gang. Concern over security and humanitarian effects of changing U.S. migration policies grew after U.S. Sec Homeland Security John Kelly 31 May questioned renewal of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) covering 188,000 Salvadoreans in U.S. Justice minister 5 June announced govt will force suspicious deportees from U.S. to join “re-education” programs.

Govt 4 May declared fall in homicides, though uneven across country. Media 25 April reported self-defence armed groups operating in some areas; President of Assembly Guillermo Gallegos 6 May admitted he had armed these groups himself, senior police officials expressed caution. National Security Council 5 May discussed potential reforms and monitoring systems to mitigate impact of possible increase in U.S. deportations of gang members. Media 27 April reported potential split of MS-13 gang into two groups, confirmed by police and govt, although respected gang experts denied rift, claiming it was govt attempt to brand groups as divided and weak. U.S. Congress 5 May approved more funding for Central America countries including $10mn for El Salvador’s attorney general’s office.

Police 4 April arrested José Adán Salazar Umaña, aka “Chepe Diablo”, alleged leader of Texis Cartel, country’s most important drug trafficking and money laundering organisation. Police conducted raids on over 50 properties and companies owned by Umaña and associates, allegedly used to evade taxes and launder money; attorney general’s office claimed group laundered over $215 million over past twelve years.

Increase in murders during month signalled possible reversal of 2016 trend of decreasing homicides, with 30 people reported killed in country in less than 24 hours on 15 March, most linked to gang violence according to police; included shootout between alleged MS-13 gang members and private security personnel from central market in San Salvador leaving six dead, reportedly linked to extortion payments. Judge 15 March reopened case into 1981 El Mozote massacre in which 1,000 civilians were killed, after Supreme Court in July 2016 overturned 1993 amnesty for crimes and human rights abuses committed during civil war; judge cited twenty military suspects, including former defence minister and high-ranking generals, to appear in court.