A mob in Ecuador killed three people mistakenly suspected of stealing children, police said on Tuesday.
Officials said those three were not in fact accused of such a crime but rather had been arrested on suspicion of stealing money and cell phones.
When they were brought to a police station in the southwest town of Posorja, a crowd outside overpowered officers and beat the detainees to death with rocks and sticks. Footage of the attack circulated on social media.
The mob also burned a taxi and six motorcycles. Three police were injured.
Police at the station tried in vain to convince the mob that the suspects were not accused of abducting children.
AFP