Brazil: Govt promises to respond quickly to attack on military security men
Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes
Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes said the government “will respond to the society quickly” over the case of the military officers shot by drug dealers in the Maré slum complex in Rio on Wednesday (Aug. 10). Moraes said the security agents were victims of a “deplorable and cowardly” incident when the National Security Force vehicle they were in lost its way and entered the slum by mistake.
One soldier was wounded in the head and was in critical condition, and the other man had a graze wound. A third officer had no injuries. Minister Moraes said that the state security forces went to the crime scene and two suspects had been identified. “We'll take action to arrest these people as soon as possible,” he promised.
According to a spokesperson, the Justice Minister headed to the hospital to check on the health state of the wounded military officer as soon as he knew of the attack.
A single bullet hole was identified in the windshield of the victims' National Security Force pickup truck, but the crime scene investigator believes other shots may have been fired because the side windows were shattered.
Rio Investigative Police Chief Rivaldo Barbosa monitored the vehicle inspection and said new ones might be carried out on the site. “Let's wait and see what the investigators will say. We'll come back here as many times as required to understand how the incident unfolded and then identify these people who have no consideration for life,” the police chief said.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: Brazil: Govt promises to respond quickly to attack on military security men
