A gunman attempting to assassinate a barber with a machine pistol fled empty-handed after the weapon jammed in a terrifying incident caught on camera.

The attempted murder happened inside a barbershop in the city of Quevedo, in Los Rios province, Ecuador, on 23rd May.

Footage from the scene shows a customer seated peacefully in a waiting area scrolling on their phone and another customer in the barber's chair when a man in a white T-shirt bursts in holding what appears to be a machine pistol.

The attacker raises the weapon over the chair and repeatedly pulls the trigger as the customers flee in panic.

Despite several attempts, the gun fails to discharge.

The barber briefly tries to shield himself with a chair and watches in shock as the attacker flees the shop.

No injuries were reported and the barber survived the attempted assassination unharmed.

Local reports suggest the incident may be linked to a wave of extortion attacks targeting barbers and other small businesses.

Gangs across Ecuador are reportedly demanding monthly payments, known as "vaccines", from business owners in exchange for protection.

Failure to pay has been met with violent retaliation, with multiple cases of murder and attempted murder reported in recent months.

In one previous case in Guayaquil, a barber was reportedly executed in what authorities described as a failure to comply with extortion demands.

Criminal groups such as Los Choneros and Los Tiguerones have been linked to the surge in violence.

Ecuador has seen a dramatic rise in extortion cases, increasing 65 percent between 2022 and late 2023 and nearly 400 percent since 2021.

The government has launched efforts to combat the criminal networks but many business owners are afraid to report threats for fear of reprisal.

The attacker in the Quevedo barbershop case remains at large and authorities are reviewing the footage as part of their investigation.

(MJ Leidig/newsX)