Rio de Janeiro gangs battle police
- 13 years ago
Tracers fill the night sky over Rio de Janeiro, as dozens of drug traffickers open fire on Brazilian soldiers.
The violence began when soldiers patrolling a pacified slum were attacked by the traffickers, who are trying to retake control of the favela.
At least 16 people have been reported injured, and a 15-year-old girl was killed on her way to school by a stray bullet.
The aunt of the girl who died is furious about the lack of security in the area.
(SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) UNIDENTIFIED SLUM RESIDENT, WHOSE NIECE WAS KILLED IN THE SHOOTING, SAYING:
"I'm very angry because I was born and raised here and no one in my family has ever been killed in shootings and now that it has been pacified I'm seeing one of them killed. Where is the state? Where are the authorities?"
Police began a push to force drug gangs out of Rio's slums in November 2010 in an effort to pacify the crime-ridden favelas.
Brazilian authorities are also trying to reduce crime in the coastal city before it hosts the finals of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.
Travis Brecher, Reuters
The violence began when soldiers patrolling a pacified slum were attacked by the traffickers, who are trying to retake control of the favela.
At least 16 people have been reported injured, and a 15-year-old girl was killed on her way to school by a stray bullet.
The aunt of the girl who died is furious about the lack of security in the area.
(SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) UNIDENTIFIED SLUM RESIDENT, WHOSE NIECE WAS KILLED IN THE SHOOTING, SAYING:
"I'm very angry because I was born and raised here and no one in my family has ever been killed in shootings and now that it has been pacified I'm seeing one of them killed. Where is the state? Where are the authorities?"
Police began a push to force drug gangs out of Rio's slums in November 2010 in an effort to pacify the crime-ridden favelas.
Brazilian authorities are also trying to reduce crime in the coastal city before it hosts the finals of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.
Travis Brecher, Reuters