MEXICO CITY -- The government of Trinidad and Tobago announced Monday that the country has been placed under a state of emergency due to heightened criminal activity.

The declaration was made by President Christine Kangaloo on the advice of Prime Minister Keith Rowley. It came in response to escalating criminal activity that poses a serious threat to public safety, pursuant to the country's Constitution.

The country has seen a recent surge in gang-related violence. In one case, five people were killed in an attack in Laventille, a suburb of the capital city of Port of Spain, according to local media.