Section » Brazil

Rio de Janeiro Brazil: Tourist shot, killed by police on favela tour under investigation

The incident occurred during a morning of heavy rains and hours after a shootout between police and alleged narco-traffickers in the favela of Rocinha RIO DE JANEIRO BRAZIL. –

 

novedadesaca.mx (machine translated) A Spaniard who visited one of the largest favelas in Brazil as part of a tourist trip was killed by military police on Monday when her vehicle did not stop at a police checkpoint, authorities said.

This is the latest example of the rise in violence in Rio de Janeiro a year after the city hosted the Olympic Games. It will surely attract criticism to both the military police, accused by many of firing first and then asking, as well as tourist companies that carry foreigners to areas of frequent conflict.

Valeria Aragao, a tourist police inspector, said authorities would consider filing criminal charges against tourism operators.

INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED SPANISH VOCABULARY – YOU MAY FIND THIS AN INDISPENSABLE GUIDE

Tourists “saw the police circulate and they felt safer, when in fact it was just the opposite,” said Aragao, who added that the visitors were taken to a “conflict zone”.

The incident occurred during a morning of heavy rains and hours after a shootout between police and alleged narco-traffickers in the Rocinha favela. Two officers were reported to have been injured.

Around 10:30 am, a car overlooked a road checkpoint and the uniformed men fired their guns, according to a police statement.

When the policemen arrived at the vehicle they noticed that the passengers were tourists and they were accompanied by a guide. The Spaniard, identified as María Esperanza Jiménez Ruiz, was taken to a hospital but died because of her injuries. Authorities said she was injured in the neck and had a cardiac arrest.

The driver of the car, who is an Italian living in Brazil, said he did not see any checkpoint, police inspector Fabio Cardoso, who is in charge of investigating crimes, said. The car had on board two other Spaniards and a Brazilian tourist guide, according to Aragao.

Cardoso told the media that an investigation into the actions of the military police has begun.

“This is unacceptable,” Cardoso said. “We will try to identify and detain the person responsible for this cowardly act against a Spanish tourist.”

In recent weeks, military police and army soldiers have carried out numerous operations in Rocinha, which borders some of Rio’s wealthiest neighborhoods in the southern sector of the city. Authorities say they are hunting for notorious drug traffickers, who have been fighting for control of the territory.

Visits to favelas have been common for years. Many of these areas contain cultural and architectural works, as well as samba, music and art schools. However, due to the recent economic crisis and the increase in violence, visits to favelas have become less frequent. Read Article

Comments Off on Rio de Janeiro Brazil: Tourist shot, killed by police on favela tour under investigationPermalink

Brazil: Tourist river runner from UK murdered and dumped in Amazon River

telegraph.co.uk / Nicola Harley reported British teacher murdered by Amazon pirates refused offer of help from locals to accompany her as she canoed dangerous stretch of river – British canoeist Emma Kelty rejected an offer of safe passage through dangerous pirate infested waters prior to her murder over fears she was losing too much time […]

Comments Off on Brazil: Tourist river runner from UK murdered and dumped in Amazon RiverRead this post »

Brazil: Tourist from Europe assaulted, raped while on cycling tour

laverdadnoticias.com – A 42-year-old Lithuanian tourist was assaulted and raped in the state of Ceará , Brazil , while participating in an expedition that toured South America on a bicycle for the Olympic year , local media reported. The rape occurred on Saturday when the group she accompanied, made up of about a dozen Lithuanians […]

Comments Off on Brazil: Tourist from Europe assaulted, raped while on cycling tourRead this post »

Sao Paulo Brazil: Modalities of Cell Phone Theft on the streets (Video)

Comments Off on Sao Paulo Brazil: Modalities of Cell Phone Theft on the streets (Video)Read this post »

Brazil Yellow Fever Alert, worst outbreak in decades

Brazil on high alert as yellow fever threatens major cities theguardian.com reported Health ministry ramps up vaccination campaign but cautions against ‘disinformation’, as disease spreads to areas where it is not normally found Brazil has ramped up an emergency yellow fever vaccination campaign as the worst outbreak in decades spreads towards major population centres, killing […]

Comments Off on Brazil Yellow Fever Alert, worst outbreak in decadesRead this post »

British teenager goes missing while swimming off coast of Brazil

TOURIST MISSING BRAZIL bbc.com reported a British teenager has gone missing after getting into difficulties while swimming off the Brazilian coast. Elliot Deslandes, 14, from Arnold in Nottingham, was with a group on holiday in Ilha Grande, an island near Rio de Janeiro. Read Article

Comments Off on British teenager goes missing while swimming off coast of BrazilRead this post »

Police in Rio de Janeiro Brazil may go on strike during Olympics

telegraph.co.uk reported Police hit by Rio de Janeiro’s cash crisis have threatened to strike during the Olympics, warning tourists that they are at risk in the city as officers and firefighters are not being paid. Amid demonstrations across Rio, officers rolled out a banner reading “Welcome to hell” in the arrivals hall at the international […]

Comments Off on Police in Rio de Janeiro Brazil may go on strike during OlympicsRead this post »

São Paulo Brazil: Assailant shot in assault on tourist

According to Globo, Brazilian military police opened fire in the capital city São Paulo this Tuesday (23), breaking up an attempted armed assault. The victim, a non-Brazilian tourist, was walking along Rua Oscar Freire in the upscale Jardins neighborhood when two men reportedly arrived on a black motorcycle and attempted to steal the tourist’s watch. […]

Comments Off on São Paulo Brazil: Assailant shot in assault on touristRead this post »

Brazil: Tourists complain of violence during Carnival

According to Jornal do Brasil, Carnival festivities escalated to violence and crime in downtown Rio de Janeiro this Saturday, leaving one person injured. The Cordão da Bola Preta, one of Brazil’s most historic, highly anticipated street parties, was plagued with assaults, thefts, and fights. The Cordão da Bola Preta is a Carioca (pertaining to Rio […]

Comments Off on Brazil: Tourists complain of violence during CarnivalRead this post »

Rio de Janeiro Brazil: Spread of Zika Virus raising concerns about Summer Olympics

NPR.org reported the spread of the Zika virus is raising concerns about the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, which are only 189 days away. NPR’s Lourdes Garcia-Navarro reports that the International Olympic Committee is sending an advisory about the mosquito-borne virus to competitors. Here’s more from Lourdes: “The IOC says it will send advice […]

Comments Off on Rio de Janeiro Brazil: Spread of Zika Virus raising concerns about Summer OlympicsRead this post »