The nation's leader Daniel Noboa came out without injury after his presidential motorcade was attacked by stone-throwing protesters and what officials described as potential shots.
The president was inaugurating a water treatment plant in central Ecuador when his convoy was set upon by a large group protesting against rising energy costs.
Approximately five hundred individuals appeared and were throwing stones at him, and there are clearly bullet marks on the president's car
commented Ecuador's environmental official.
Officials reported that five people were detained and would stand trial on terrorism charges – an offense carrying a highest penalty of 30 years in jail.
Recorded material released by the government shows demonstrators standing in the street, covered in flags, scrambling to gather large stones and building blocks.
When the official vehicle passed, objects thudded into the exterior and shattered windows.
A voice could be heard yelling: "Duck! Heads down!" as the vehicle sped away.
Officials said they were continuing to examine whether certain of the damage on Noboa's protected vehicle were resulted from bullet impacts.
This reported incident came amid days of progressively aggressive demonstrations triggered by a administration's move to increase fuel costs.
Demonstrators have initiated work stoppages, obstructed highways and taken 16 soldiers – who were subsequently released without injury.
Ecuador's largest native group reported that a protester had been fatally injured by armed forces during one of the rallies.
Over 100 people, including protesters and security services, are thought to have been injured in the unrest.
Noboa has imposed a emergency measures across multiple regions.
The presidential administration stated on digital platforms after the incident that "such actions will not stop" the leader.
A senior official of the Organization of American States commented that "such violent acts are an attack on democratic principles, peace, and the principle of harmonious living that must dominate in our nations."
The recently re-elected president is attempting to reduce fuel support to save about one billion dollars in government spending, redirecting a significant portion of the savings to safety initiatives.
The nation, once considered one of the region's safest countries, has experienced a dramatic surge in violence in recent years.
Strategically located between two neighboring countries, both the planet's biggest cocaine producers, Ecuador has transformed into a significant transit hub for illegal drugs.
Authorities have accused cartels of fueling the protests, suggesting that criminal groups are exploiting the demonstrations to destabilize the nation.
Reports indicate that 70% of the global illegal drug market transits via the country, much of it headed for the US.
The trade has drawn global crime syndicates, including Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, Italy's 'Ndrangheta, and Albanian criminal networks.
Their competition for control of smuggling corridors has transformed Ecuador into one of the area's highest-risk locations.
Noboa has called for a public vote to permit the presence of US troops to the nation, overturning a 2009 ban on foreign bases.
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