Video After The Jump
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Bank robbers armed with explosives and high-powered rifles plunged a city in Sao Paulo state’s interior into terror early Monday, taking civilians hostage & even putting some on their cars while making their escape.
Video shared on social media showed a booming shootout & men dressed in black marching hostages down a street in Araçatuba, 323 miles from Sao Paulo & home to almost 200,000 people.
After ransacking at least two bank branches, the criminals drove away with hostages atop their cars’ roofs and hoods, clinging on to keep from sliding off. Another hostage stood with his torso protruding from an SUV’s sunroof and his hands held in the air.
At least three people were killed in the clash, two of whom were civilians. One was a local businessman who went to the location to film the attack & the other a delivery boy. Local media reported the third person killed was a criminal.
Large-scale bank heists have become more frequent in recent years, with hostages used as human shields. Last July, a group of criminals stormed Botucatu, &, over two days in December, two cities on opposite sides of the country.
The coordinated attack on Monday involved dozens of criminals & at least 10 cars. They reportedly used a drone to monitor the movements of police who were struggling to respond to the assault. The criminals had burned vehicles in strategic locations to impede access.
Araçatuba’s mayor, Dilador Borges, said authorities believe undetonated explosives remain in some areas of the city center & called on residents to remain in their homes.
Local media reported that branches belonging to state banks Caixa Federal & Banco do Brasil were the ones targeted. In a response to a request for comment, Caixa said it only provides information about crimes to police. Banco do Brasil said it is collaborating with authorities & that it doesn’t disclose the amount of money stolen in robberies.
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Na fuga, os reféns foram amarrados nos veículos. Tentativa de impedir qualquer contra-ataque da polícia ao grupo. Deus guarde essas pessoas e todos de Araçatuba. Todas as agências bancárias do centro foram invadidas - informações preliminares. pic.twitter.com/lu0hBlcTCu
— Yuri Macri (@yurimacri) August 30, 2021
Aflição total, meu Deus, oremos por todas essas pessoas que estão sendo feitas de reféns nesse mega assalto aqui em Araçatuba #Araçatuba #OremPorAraçatuba pic.twitter.com/lBo4Ti2rk0
— thales (@thalespatrizzi) August 30, 2021
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