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Violence in Rio De Janeiro: Violent Clashes with 12 Dead

by Amy Judd | October 17, 2009 at 10:36 am

1059 views | 28 Recommendations | 2 comments

Violence has errupted in Rio de Janeiro today, just two weeks after they won the 2016 Olympic bid, with suspected drug traffickers shooting down a police helicopter and setting fire to five buses and a school, two policemen have also been killed.

There are now 12 suspected to be dead after violent clashes have errupted on the streets.

Clashes between Brazilian police and drug traffickers turn Rio de Janeiro into chaos. (Photo: Folha Online)

This is one of the worst outbreaks of violence in recent history in Rio. What was thought to be drug traffickers set fire to buses in retaliation to police cracking down on them; it is thought that three criminals were killed in the violence as well.

"The helicopter was hit by criminals and the pilot made a forced landing on a football pitch," Major Oderlei Santos of the military police told Reuters.

The helicopter was carrying six police officers and two of the officers on board died after the helicopter exploded; the remaining four are suffering from burns.

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Hugh Askew

at 15:26 on October 17th, 2009

Was this an attempt to prove to the world, that Chicago ain't got nuttin' on Rio?

If so, I'm impressed!

F Moreira (not verified)

at 12:44 on October 19th, 2009

Well, at least Brazilian government will not have excuses to leave it like it is... like it always has been. The Olympic Games it is a good thing to be there, so they "will have to fix things" around there... Of course Chicago would be a better place to hold the event, but it is good to keep in mind that the rest of the world needs to develop too.