A mass trial of 486 suspected MS-13 gang leaders has begun in El Salvador, the country's attorney general's office has said. The group are collectively accused of committing more than 47,000 crimes - including murder, extortion, drug and arms trafficking - between 2012 and 2022. Among those on trial are individuals alleged to have been involved in a wave of gang violence in March 2022, which saw 87 people killed in one weekend, prompting President Nayib Bukele to declare a 'war on gangs'. The attorney general's office did not provide details on the length of the trial, but claimed it had 'compelling' evidence that would allow 'maximum penalties' to be imposed on those found guilty. MS-13, a transnational gang designated as a terrorist organization by the US last year, was established in Los Angeles during the 1980s by immigrants fleeing El Salvador's civil war, now largely operating in Central America. The attorney general's office stated that for years, this structure has instilled fear and grief in Salvadoran families. The charges against the suspects also include femicide and disappearances, impacting lives and hindering the nation's economic and social development. They are also charged with 'rebellion for attempting to maintain territorial control to establish a parallel state'. While 413 suspects are already in custody, arrest warrants have been issued for 73 others being prosecuted in absentia. El Salvador's National Civil Police reported enhanced research and monitoring efforts to locate, capture, and document criminal activities of the suspects. A controversial state of emergency has been in effect in El Salvador since March 2022, allowing expanded powers to arrest those suspected of gang affiliation, which has resulted in tens of thousands of arrests amidst claims of arbitrary detentions. Legal changes have also facilitated these mass trials.