The targeted attack happened yesterday around noon on a stretch of road linking Oscar Arnulfo Romero airport with the capital San Salvador.
Four bodies were found inside the bus, which had left from the eastern city of Usulutan, and two more were left on the side of the road.
The attackers fled, Mauricio Ramirez, a deputy director of the National Civilian Police, told reporters at the scene.
The suspect gang members were disguised as road repair men, witnesses said.
Homicides in this Central American country were running at 14 per day until a truce was reached between the two main gangs in March 2012, which helped halve the murder rate. But extortion and other crimes persist.
The notorious "mara" street gangs are believed have around 60,000 members, 10,000 of whom are behind bars.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
