Mass trial for 486 alleged gang members begins in El Salvador

A mass trial of 486 suspected MS-13 gang members has begun in El Salvador, the country’s attorney general’s office has said.

Footage released by the attorney general’s office shows large groups of men in prison attending the trial via video link.

The group are collectively accused of committing more than 47,000 crimes – including murder, extortion, drug and arms trafficking – between 2012 and 2022.

United Nations experts say mass trials “undermine the exercise of the right to defence and the presumption of innocence of detainees”.

But the attorney general’s office said it had “compelling” evidence that would allow “maximum penalties” to be imposed on those found guilty.

The BBC’s Mimi Swaby explains why El Salvador are taking this approach and why its led to widespread criticism from rights groups.