ECUADOR’S fragile security situation has been underscored by a series of car bombings and the hostage-taking of more than 50 police officers inside various prisons — just weeks after the assassination of a presidential candidate.

The National Police reported on Thursday that there were no injuries from the four explosions in the capital Quito and in a province that borders Peru, while Interior Minister Juan Zapata said that none of the officers taken hostage at six different prisons had been wounded.

Authorities said that the brazen actions were the response of criminal groups to the relocation of various inmates and other measures taken by the prison system.