At least 35 buses and a train were set on fire Monday in Rio de Janeiro in attacks attributed to bandits in response to the death of a leader of the largest militia operating in the city in a police operation , official sources reported today.
The attacks took place this afternoon, all of them in the western area of ​​Rio de Janeiro, the main territory ruled by the militia, in response to the death of Matheus Rezende ‘Faustao’, in the favela of Tres Pontos. Faustao is listed as number 2 in the hierarchy commanded by his uncle, and is the third member of the family to die at the hands of the police.
In addition to the fires on 35 buses and trains, Avenida Brasil, the main route in and out of Rio de Janeiro, was closed by bandits.
Of the 35 buses that burned, 20 were municipal lines, 5 were private lines and the rest were tourist buses.
At least 12 people were arrested in connection with the attacks. Television and telephone images showed that passengers quickly left the buses after the attack by the bandits to avoid burning.
At least 45 municipal schools in the western area of ​​Rio de Janeiro were affected, affecting more than 17 thousand students.
“We will not stop. Our actions to combat organized crime are producing daily results,” said the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Claudio Castro.
“In addition to his relationship with the militia leader, Faustao acted as the ‘man of war’ for the paramilitary group, and was primarily responsible for the territorial wars that terrorized the residents of Rio de Janeiro. Do not let organized crime dares to challenge the power of the State,” added the governor.
Faustao died this Monday in a shootout with the police. The militia is made up of agents from the security forces, active or retired, who act like the mafia, dominating the whole neighborhood where they impose their law and force the neighbors to buy or use only the products they decided, even on the internet. , water, cable television or even transportation.
