Brazil: suspect leader of the attacks in Rio Grande do Norte dies in clash with police

One of the suspects leading the attacks that hit more than 50 cities in Rio Grande do Norte since last week was killed in a confrontation with the police on Tuesday (21).

Francisco Allison de Freitas, known as “Nazista” (Nazi), was hiding in the countryside of Icapuí, in Ceará, 316 kilometers from Natal.

According to the police, Nazista commanded the attacks in the city of Mossoró and region, the town where the Federal Penitentiary that houses leaders of criminal factions is located.

In a recent Civil Police operation, almost 100 liters of gasoline and ammunition were seized at one of his addresses.

The police have not yet disclosed if there were new attacks in the early hours of Wednesday (22).

Throughout Tuesday, there were registered occurrences such as burning a beverage truck and a car from a telecommunications company in the Great Natal, an explosive device, and an attempted fire at a Civil Police garage and a boat in the Potiguar capital.

According to the most recent bulletin of the Secretariat of State for Public Safety and Social Defense (Sesede), in the early morning of Wednesday (22), 150 people were arrested, suspected of participating in the attacks and the seizure of 139 explosive devices, 31 gallons of fuel, 41 firearms, among others.

Since Tuesday of last week, 192 attacks have been officially registered in Rio Grande do Norte.

Earlier this week, Justice Minister Flávio Dino announced the transfer of R$100 million to the state to expand the security structure, such as the construction of a new investigative facility for the Civil Police, purchase and lease of vehicles, weapons, and the forwarding of projects for the construction of a new penitentiary and creation of vacancies in existing prisons.

with information from Gazeta do Povo

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