El Salvador locks down prisons after wave of 87 killings over weekend

The government declared a state of emergency after arresting more than 600 gang suspects and ordering food restrictions

The government of El Salvador said it had arrested more than 600 gang suspects and ordered reductions in food for prison inmates, after a wave of killings over the weekend.

The government declared a state of emergency and locked down prisons after 87 murders were committed Friday, Saturday and Sunday. By comparison, there were 79 homicides in the entire month of February.