Brazil: the government gathers powers to install a crisis committee in Rio Grande do Norte

The government of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) installed, on Thursday, 16, a Crisis Management Cabinet (GGC) to help combat the violence that takes over the state.

The committee will comprise authorities from the Legislative, Judiciary, state and federal Public Ministry branches, and civil society institutions.

“The moment is delicate, and we are aligning with the public powers and institutions the measures to protect the population.”

“We will not back down in the fight against crime and in the duty to protect the population,” declared Governor Fátima Bezerra (PT-RN).

By request of the governor, the Minister of Justice, Flávio Dino, should send to the state, between tonight and early Friday, 17 more police officers of the National Force, who have already been helping the state agents.

BEGINNING OF THE ATTACKS IN RN

Coordinated criminal attacks took place in 19 cities in RN since the early hours of Tuesday 14.

Gangs fired shots and set fire to public buildings, businesses, and vehicles.

At least two people were injured.

According to the police, the action is organized by a faction that acts from inside the prisons.

The Secretary of Public Safety and Social Defense of RN said that the criminal actions are retaliation for efforts to combat trafficking and organized crime.

During the early hours of Wednesday, 220 men of the National Force arrived in the state to reinforce security.

According to the latest balance of the Military Police, 28 people have been arrested since the beginning of the attacks.

On the same morning, a 29-year-old man, accused by the police of being one of the coordinators of the violent attacks in RN, was killed after a confrontation with officers in João Pessoa, capital of the state of Paraíba.

According to the Civil Police, José Wilson da Silva Filho is part of the “crime syndicate” and reacted to the police approach.

During the confrontation, he was shot and taken to the Hospital de Emergência e Trauma, but he did not resist.

With information from Revista Oeste

More: Brazil news in English, every day from The Rio Times.