Rio de Janeiro: bandits steal weapons from police and blow up ATMs

By Douglas Corrêa*

The Jardim Primavera neighborhood in Duque de Caxias, in Baixada Fluminense, was transformed into a stage of intense shooting in the early hours of this Wednesday (5).

War weapons were used by about 15 criminals preparing to blow up the Caixa Econômica Federal branch to take the money from the ATMs.

The action started around 2:30 in the morning.

When they arrived in four cars, the men carrying rifles surrounded the cabin of the State Program for Security Integration (Proeis), occupied by three military police officers who were doing the neighborhood security.

According to the State Secretariat of Military Police, the soldiers gave the bandits a carbine and two automatic pistols.

They were then released by the men without suffering any aggression.

Other police officers who were outside the cabin exchanged fire with the criminals.

The action caused panic among the residents due to the impact caused by the rifle shots.

Afterward, the criminals blew up the ATMs with ammonium nitrate, which has high destructive power.

Despite the explosion, the bandits could not take the money from the branch since the main entrance door of the bank was armored.

Caixa took the measure due to other explosion episodes.

None of the criminals was arrested in action, and there are no records of injuries.

The Military Police also informed the communiqué that “Proeis Duque de Caxias is a service in which policemen volunteer to do paid work in their time off.”

“These agents are not assigned to the area’s battalion, the 15th Duque de Caxias battalion”.

An internal investigation procedure will be opened by the Military Police Inspector General’s Office.

* Edited by Aline Leal

With information from Agência Brasil