a spike in homicides in El Salvador left 87 people dead. The government attributed the spike to gang activity, and on 27 March, the Legislative Assembly declared a state of exception and authorized the mass arrests of gang members in the country. In May 2022, El Faro alleged that the spike in homicides occurred as a result of a breakdown in negotiations between the government and the gangs following the arrest of a high-ranking member of MS-13 in mid-March 2022. As of 22 February 2023, the ensuing gang crackdown has resulted in the arrests of 64,512 alleged gang members. References Further reading External links 2012 in El Salvador 2013 in El Salvador 2014 in El Salvador 2012 crimes in El Salvador 2013 crimes in El Salvador 2014 crimes in El Salvador Ceasefires Crime in El Salvador MS-13 Politics of El Salvador