BRAZIL: Rio residents reeling as wave of violence leaves dozens dead

Record ID: 807645

  • Title: BRAZIL: Rio residents reeling as wave of violence leaves dozens dead
  • Date: 27th November 2010
  • Summary: HEADLINE OF THE "O GLOBO" NEWSPAPER, READING: "D DAY OF THE WAR ON TRAFFIC" PHOTO IN "EXTRA" NEWSPAPER OF GANGSTERS FLEEING SLUM WITH CAPTION READING: "THE EVIL ESCAPES" HEADLINE OF THE "EXTRA" NEWSPAPER, READING: "HAVE WE UNDERSTOOD WHO COMMANDS RIO" HEADLINE OF THE "MEIA-HORA" NEWSPAPER, READING: "WUSSIES ESCAPE LIKE COCKROACHES FROM SLUM"
  • Embargoed: 12th December 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil, Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVAAOAEHMAJVPAH9ZNKQSR7BOONK
  • Story Text: The surge of violence in Rio de Janeiro this week, which has left at least 30 people by Friday (November 26), has also raised more questions about the city's ability to host the World Cup in 2014 and Olympic Games two years later.
    The Brazilian city's beautiful backdrop has been overshadowed by burning cars and the piercing sound of gunshots in the past five days.
    Brazilian authorities have claimed that recent attacks by drugs gangs are a desperate response at police efforts to take control of their turf in more than a dozen slum areas.
    Newspaper headlines on Friday questioned the police's capacity to respond to the attacks one day after dozens of armed gangsters were filmed fleeing a slum through a forest area.
    Police targeted the Vila Cruzeiro slum in the northern part of the city, considered a stronghold of a gang thought to be behind ordering attacks.
    The violence began on Sunday as suspected gang members attacked police stations and burned vehicles. Authorities blamed the assaults on orders from imprisoned gang members angry at police efforts to take control of their turf in more than a dozen slums.
    At least 10 armored Marine vehicles, never before used in battles in the city's slums, or favelas, transported soldiers into Vila Cruzeiro, even as gangsters erected barriers.
    Rio will be a key venue when Brazil stages World Cup and is widely tipped to host the final at the Maracana stadium.
    Rio Residents are scared, but are mostly optimistic about the success of the World Cup and 2016 Games. Juliana Paca said tourism during the events would suffer with the news of violence around the world.
    "I don't think it (World Cup and Olympic Games) will be held back, because it has already been defined and there's no way to change it now. But tourism will certainly be harmed. Many people will give up coming here to visit and watch the Games," she said.
    "I think the measures being taken by the police are important, necessary and vital to the state. Otherwise we will never have another opportunity like this (referring to World Cup and Olympics). This is the chance of changing Rio once and for all for Games and the World Cup," said Rio resident Marcelo Muniz.
    Despite the recent unrest, Brazilian soccer authorities have promised that the World Cup would take place in a "climate of normality".
    Organizers of the 2016 Olympic Games in the city also expressed their faith in security measures. In a statement, the local organizing Olympics committee also promised a trouble-free games.
    Gang violence has spilled over several times since Rio was awarded the 2016 Olympic Games in October 2009. In August, gunmen from a slum armed with automatic weapons and grenades invaded a five-star hotel in one of Rio's richest neighborhoods and held 35 people hostage for two hours.
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