Trending Now - El Salvador Launches Major Trial for 486 MS-13 Suspects
WHO:
BBC News - 486 alleged members of the MS-13 gang are on trial in El Salvador.
CBS News World - The group includes several alleged leaders of MS-13.
WHAT:
AP News - The joint trial involves nearly 500 alleged MS-13 members accused of tens of thousands of crimes, including homicide, extortion, and arms trafficking.
ABC News - The trial is being conducted under a 2023 reform of El Salvador’s Penal Code.
ABC News - The defendants are accused of ordering more than 47,000 crimes from 2012 to 2022, including femicide and enforced disappearances.
ABC News - The first collective trial in March 2025 resulted in 52 members of the Barrio 18 gang being sentenced to up to 245 years in prison.
ABC News - In November 2025, a court found 45 members of the Barrio 18 Sureños guilty of various crimes, imposing a 397-year prison sentence on one leader.
ABC News - The joint trial opened on April 17th, 2026, in San Salvador.
ABC News - The trial is being conducted at an Organized Crime Court.
ABC News - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights expressed serious concerns about the impact on human rights due to the prolonged state of exception in El Salvador.
ABC News - Since the state of emergency began, authorities have arrested 91,300 individuals allegedly tied to gangs.
ABC News - At least 500 people have died in state custody since the state of emergency was declared.
ABC News - Bukele acknowledged that at least 8,000 innocent people were arrested under the state of emergency and have since been released.
ABC News - The joint trial involves allegations of homicide, extortion, and arms trafficking against nearly 500 alleged MS-13 members.
ABC News - The 486 defendants are accused of ordering more than 47,000 crimes from 2012 to 2022, including femicide and enforced disappearances.
ABC News - Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado stated, "For years, this structure has operated systematically, causing fear and mourning among Salvadoran families."
ABC News - The mass trial is being conducted under a 2023 reform of El Salvador’s Penal Code.
BBC News - Footage released by the attorney general's office shows large groups of men in prison attending the trial via video link.
BBC News - The attorney general's office stated that 413 suspects are already in custody, while arrest warrants have been issued for 73 others who are being prosecuted in absentia.
BBC News - The group is collectively accused of committing more than 47,000 crimes, including murder.
CBS News World - The trial involves nearly 500 alleged MS-13 members accused of thousands of murders.
WHERE:
BBC News - The mass trial is taking place in El Salvador.
WHEN:
BBC News - The trial began in April 2026.
WHY:
ABC News - The mass trial is part of President Nayib Bukele's iron fist approach against criminal groups in El Salvador, which has been under a state of emergency since March 2022.
BBC News - The mass trial is part of the government's efforts to combat gang violence in El Salvador.
HOW:
AP News - The "state of exception" has allowed security forces to intercept telecommunications without a court order and extended detention without a preliminary hearing from 72 hours to 15 days.
ABC News - The "state of exception" has suspended fundamental rights, including the right to be informed of the reasons for detention and the right to access legal counsel.
CBS News World - The trial is being conducted collectively for the nearly 500 alleged gang members.
(UPDATED April 22, 2026 11:24 UTC)
A joint trial is currently underway in El Salvador involving nearly 500 alleged MS-13 members who face accusations of committing tens of thousands of crimes, including homicide and extortion, from 2012 to 2022. This trial is being conducted under a 2023 reform of the country's Penal Code, and it follows a previous collective trial in March 20th25 that resulted in 52 members of the Barrio 18 gang receiving sentences of up to 245 years in prison. The government's "state of exception" has enabled security forces to intercept communications without a court order and has extended detention periods from 72 hours to 15 days.
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(UPDATED April 22, 2026 09:22 UTC)
The joint trial opened on Friday in San Salvador at an Organized Crime Court, amid serious concerns from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights regarding the impact of the prolonged state of emergency in El Salvador. Since the emergency was declared, authorities have arrested over 91,000 individuals allegedly connected to gangs, with at least 500 reported deaths in state custody. President Bukele has acknowledged that around 8,000 innocent people were arrested during this period and have since been released.
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(UPDATED April 21, 2026 23:11 UTC)
A massive trial is currently underway in El Salvador, involving nearly 500 alleged MS-13 members facing serious charges including homicide, extortion, and arms trafficking. These 486 defendants are accused of orchestrating over 47,000 crimes between 2012 and 2022, with Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado highlighting the fear and mourning this criminal structure has caused among Salvadoran families. This trial is part of President Nayib Bukele's aggressive strategy against criminal organizations, which has seen a state of emergency in place since March 20th22, suspending fundamental rights such as access to legal counsel and the right to be informed of detention reasons.
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(UPDATED April 21, 2026 21:15 UTC)
Footage released by the attorney general's office shows large groups of men in prison attending their trial via video link. This development was reported by BBC News at 21:15 UTC. The use of video technology in the courtroom continues to evolve, allowing for broader participation in legal proceedings.
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(UPDATED April 21, 2026 17:21 UTC)
The attorney general's office announced that 413 suspects are currently in custody, with arrest warrants issued for an additional 73 individuals who are being prosecuted in absentia. This development highlights the ongoing efforts to address the situation. Authorities are actively working to bring those remaining suspects into custody.
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(UPDATED April 21, 2026 15:22 UTC)
A mass trial involving 486 alleged members of the MS-13 gang is currently underway in El Salvador, with several of the group's leaders among those accused. The defendants face serious charges, including involvement in over 47,000 crimes, such as murder, as part of the government's ongoing efforts to tackle gang violence in the country. This significant trial began in on Monday26 and is being conducted collectively for nearly 500 alleged gang members.