Brazil: Rio Grande do Norte has criminal attacks for the seventh night; suspected leader arrested in Paraíba

The dawn of this Monday (20) was marked by new criminal attacks in the cities of Rio Grande do Norte, the seventh in which the state is the target of attacks by factions in reprisal for police actions.

In the capital Natal, a Military Police base was hit by a Molotov cocktail, but the flames did not spread to the structure, and the bomb squad was activated to disarm a large explosive near the Frasqueirão stadium.

A train station in the city of Parnamirim, in the metropolitan region, was also set on fire.

CBTU, responsible for the system, suspended the public transportation of metropolitan trains on Monday (20).

In the state’s interior, criminals set fire to a school bus parked in the São Pedro city hall courtyard.

In Acari, a law office was shot at in the early morning hours.

Because of the relentless wave of attacks, the Minister of Justice, Flávio Dino, said on Sunday night (19) that the government might send another 1,000 agents of the National Force to Rio Grande do Norte.

At least 135 people have been arrested until the early hours of this Monday (20), including a suspect of killing a criminal police officer in Natal.

According to Dino, the state already has “approximately 700 police officers from various forces” working to combat the attacks, with a federal government expenditure already passing R$5.3 million.

“We are here to say that this support has no limit as long as it is needed. If additional support is necessary, which we do not believe, these 700 can become 1,000, 1,200, 1,700, as many as Rio Grande do Norte needs,” he said.

Also, according to the minister, the state should receive additional resources for the purchase of “more vehicles and more weapons, so that we have a restructuring of the prison system with investments in physical structure, including reforms in the existing prison system today, and also the construction of new units.”

The amount to be transferred to the state should be announced Monday (20).

“The work has had an effect, and occurrences have decreased. This is the result of the selfless work of the local and national security forces,” said Governor Fátima Bezerra (PT) soon after meeting with the minister.

THE LEADER OF THE ATTACKS WAS ARRESTED IN PARAÍBA

Also on Sunday (19), a 23-year-old man, suspected of involvement with the recent attacks in Rio Grande do Norte, was arrested in the city of Campina Grande, in the state of Paraíba.

He is pointed out by the Civil Police of Rio Grande do Norte (PCRN) as one of the leaders of a criminal faction.

According to the police, Erivanaldo da Silva Sales is responsible for ordering attacks in the city and the Seridó region.

With the suspect, Molotov cocktails, drugs, precision scale, and other items were found.

He was considered a fugitive and had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and an extensive criminal record.

The actions of the Civil Police are part of the task force of the Public Security System of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, intending to contain the attacks from criminal organizations that operate in the state.

Besides the arrests in Rio Grande do Norte and Paraíba, the police have seized 38 firearms, 106 explosive devices, and 28 gallons of fuel.

ARMED FORCES INTERVENTION

Last Friday (17), the president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), forwarded to the Planalto Palace a request from Senator Styverson Valentim (Podemos-RN) for an intervention of the Armed Forces in Rio Grande do Norte.

“I recognize the remarkable commitment of the state and national security forces at this moment, to which the Armed Forces can be added, at the discretion of the President of the Republic.”

“The important thing is to guarantee peace in the state as soon as possible,” said Pacheco in the request sent to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).

On Friday (17), the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) requested updated information on the state’s prison system to assess the situation of detainees in Potiguar prisons over the past three years.

According to the document sent to the National Mechanism for the Prevention and Combat of Torture (MNPCT), the prosecutor asks for access to the latest inspection report conducted by the body, which points out serious violations in the prison system.

According to the MPF, “it is necessary to deepen the analysis of the direct motivations of the attacks, including investigating the relationship with any restrictions on the rights of the detainees,” said the prosecutor.

The Chamber of External Control of Police Activity and Prison System is in contact with the prosecutors who work in the state to enable integrated and effective action of the institution, “aiming at the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the preservation of human dignity of people deprived of liberty.

With information from Gazeta do Povo