mp3Skull English songs celebrity wallpapers: El Salvador imposes 24-hour prison lockdown after 22 murders in one day

Handout picture released on April 25, 2020 by El Salvador's Presidency press office showing inmates at the Izalco prison, northwest of San Salvador, during a security operation within the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, after President Nayob Bukele decreed a maximum emergency in all penitentiary centers housing gang members. - Bukele ordered the director general of Penitentiary Centers, Osiris Luna Meza, to decree a maximum emergency, following intelligence reports detailing that the recent increase in homicides in the country was registered by orders issued from prisons. (Photo by Handout / various sources / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT 'AFP PHOTO / EL SALVADOR'S PRESIDENCY PRESS OFFICE' - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by HANDOUT/AFP via Getty Images) — Gang leaders in Salvadoran prisons have been placed under 24-hour lockdown (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

The president of El Savador has ordered a 24-hour lockdown of prisons housing gang members after 22 homicides were reported in one day.

Nayib Bukele said leaders would be placed into solitary confinement following the sudden surge amid fears they were ordered from behind bars.

He added that the ‘maximum emergency’ measures were implemented while police investigate the killings. It was the highest single day total since Bukele took office last June.

He wrote on Twitter: ‘No contact with the outside world. Shops will remain closed and all activities are suspended until further notice. Gang leaders will go into solitary confinement.’

Handout picture released on April 25, 2020 by El Salvador's Presidency press office showing inmates at the Zacatecoluca prison, southeast of San Salvador, during a security operation within the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, after President Nayib Bukele decreed a maximum emergency in all penitentiary centers housing gang members. - Bukele ordered the director general of Penitentiary Centers, Osiris Luna Meza, to decree a maximum emergency, following intelligence reports detailing that the recent increase in homicides in the country was registered by orders issued from prisons. (Photo by Handout / various sources / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT 'AFP PHOTO / EL SALVADOR'S PRESIDENCY PRESS OFFICE' - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by HANDOUT/AFP via Getty Images) — President Nayib Bukele decreed a maximum emergency in all penitentiary centers housing gang members (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

Only a few years ago, El Salvador, which has long been plagued by powerful street gangs known as maras, had the highest homicide rate in the Americas.

However, murders have fallen significantly under Bukele and the Central American country has in recent months registered several days without any homicides.