Tanks sent in to deal with Rio favela violence
Military tanks have been sent into 28 of Rio’s shantytowns after armed gangs attacked police stations and set vehicles alight. At least 23 people have died in the violence.
Elite police units in borrowed navy tanks entered heavily fortified favelas, or shantytowns, in Rio de Janeiro in an effort to arrest drug gang leaders blamed for five days of widespread violence.
Authorities said the gangs had erected roadblocks on highways to rob motorists, torched more than 40 cars and buses, and fired at police outposts.
“We will continue with our operation in the favela in order to bring peace to these communities.” Rio police officer
Criminals are angry about police efforts to take control of the favelas ahead of major sporting events, including the World Cup and Olympic Games.
The officers arrived in the Vila Cruzeiro shantytown under the cover of police helicopters and amid the rattle of high-calibre gunfire despite the gang members’ efforts to block access with burning vehicles.
“There is no hour or date set to end this operation. We will continue with our operation in the favela in order to bring peace to these communities,” said one officer.
But as police entered, scores of alleged gang members were seen fleeing down jungle-covered hills, across an area known as “the green hell,” to a neighbouring gang stronghold, Alemao.
Thursday’s push into Vila Cruzeiro and other shantytowns in the city left eight people dead and one police officer wounded, authorities said.
Police arrested 11 men, and seized gallons of gasoline and sticks of dynamite.
Since Monday, at least 23 people have died, many believed to be suspected drug gang members.
Police raids
More than 150 suspects have been arrested in police raids at nearly 30 shantytowns in the northern and western parts of Rio.
Bus companies removed 115 vehicles from service on Thursday for safety reasons, while gang members stopped and burned 11 others, the Federation of Bus Companies of Rio, Fetranspor, said.
Authorities also have established 13 permanent police posts in the favelas as part of their efforts to clean up the seaside city before it hosts the World Cup football final in 2014 and the 2016 Olympics.
Police have not released the identities of all those killed, but spokesman Henrique de Lima Castro Saraiva did acknowledge on Wednesday that “bystanders would be affected” by the battles.