El Salvador's gangs - BBC News

The President of El Salvador has pledged to dismantle the country's gangs, and called upon members to leave them, or perish with them. El Salvador's gangs have operations stretching from the USA to Central America and are involved in drug running, extortion, and killing. There are thought to be as many as 60,000 active members and once in a gang, there are few ways out – apart from death. But now a church in the capital, San Salvador, is trying to give former members a fresh start. Our International Correspondent Orla Guerin reports on the BBC News at Ten, presented by Sophie Raworth.

[adrielmanriquez]

To bad the people they killed don’t get a second chance

[santiagocordova]

El Salvador it's an amazing country with great food, beautiful places to visit, the actual Government is fighting against gangs.

[ludwinmendoza]

I pray for better days for my home country...

[georgeorwell]

Maybe the church should offer tattoo removals too.

[marijacolak]

World might not forgive, but God does. We have all sinned. He gives second chances so these people can start a new life and not suffer for eternity.

[josueisaiasmartinezrodrigu]

Great video but you guys need to cover our soldiers faces when doing this reports. Gangs are eager to find out who's behind the soldiers mask to attack them at home. Thank you guys

[muhammedsidik]

Justice and religion are two different things

[fernandoulloa]

THE CRIMES THEY HAVE COMMITED ARE VERY HARD TO FORGET. TO PEEL THE SKIN OF A PERSON WHILE HE IS ALIVE IS HORRIBLE AND PAINFUL AND THESE LITTLE ANGELS DID THAT AND WORST WHILE LAUGHING.

[ucheuchendu]

Thank God for the Church.. Jesus is the only way. The truth and life. Jesus is the expression of God's Love..read John 3.16

[NoName-qmvj]

Latin America is like on a whole other level than the rest of the world.

[CarlosPerez-bjjz]

El Salvador 🇸🇻 is a beautiful country!

[erindewan]

Would they be willing to confess their crimes and pay the price required by society and the families of their victims?
Good for them for leaving, but if they continue to hide their crimes from police and protect the existing gang members... then their lives may change but not society... they must help to heal.

[GY-hdbr]

Most of the gang members aren’t so obvious but just as violent and dangerous

[ceronfamily]

Thank God for Nayib and thank God for these ppl who are leaving the gang life!!!

[jlazo]

Yea, all of this happens in El Salvador . But sometimes, you gotta see the positive side to this . All parts of El Salvador aren’t about gangs . Where my family lives, it’s beautiful .

[Vera]

"For the word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints and [their] marrow, and [is] able to discern thoughts and intentions of [the] heart." ( Hebrews 4: 12 )

[sidneyvega]

A killer is a killer, no matter what or how he changed, he owes lives that's the max price, don't ever forget it, no mercy to them...

[guillermotv]

El salvador with the new govertment is getting better every day thanks God violence haf drope alot everyone feel more safe now

[verbmaker]

These dudes ain't change. They playing the christian card to stay alive. See it all the time in prison

[c-light]

A lot of these guys were forced into the gangs in one way or another. Most people don’t want to be part of gangs, but fear for their or their family’s lives cause them to join. Or being exposed to that life growing up made it seem ideal. If this is how they get out, real or not, all the better.