Military police killed one of Brazil's most wanted men after his gang spectacularly blasted its way into a gem-cutting plant Sunday, traded fire with police and made off with nine hostages.
"We have not had contact with the criminals to negotiate the hostages' release. And we also do not know exactly where they are," Rio Grande do Sul state military chief Sergio Abreu told reporters.
Three of the assailants died in the assault in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, a military police official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Attackers fled with their hostages into a wooded area of the town of Cotipora, with police in cars and helicopters in pursuit, the official said.
The area where the strike was carried out is in the heart of Brazil's gem-cutting industry. It is a world leader in exporting many semiprecious stones such as topaz, aquamarine and amethyst.
The robbers detonated dynamite to storm into the plant, then ran into police on their way out, the military police official said.
"There was an intense firefight. Three assailants died and two police were injured," the official said.
Police have recovered part of the loot, but gave no figure for its value.
As they made their escape, the attackers split into two groups. One took two people who were in a bar hostage, and the other broke into a home and abducted seven people, apparently all members of the same family.
The forest where the gang fled is thick and hard to navigate, but police have it surrounded, said Altair de Freitas, deputy commander of the military in Rio Grande do Sul.
Governor Tarso Genro stressed that the hostages' lives were the top priority. "We are going to trust in our military police brigade for everything to turn out well," he told Radio Gaucha.
Helicopters and special operations teams with sniffer dogs were taking part in the search, he added.
News reports said the gang was made up of nine men armed with rifles.
The dead included Elisandro Falcao, 31, one of the state's most wanted men. He led a gang that specializes in robberies using explosives to target banks and automated teller machines, reports said.
AFP
Sun Dec 30 2012
![Suspek bunuh Cikgu Istiqomah dijangka didakwa Isnin Suspek bunuh Cikgu Istiqomah dijangka didakwa Isnin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723694255_AshariAbuSamah.jpg)
Suspek bunuh Cikgu Istiqomah dijangka didakwa Isnin
Suspek kes pembunuhan guru wanita Istiqomah Ahmad Rozi, 33, di Melaka dijangka didakwa di mahkamah selewat-lewatnya Isnin depan.
![Lelaki tolak isteri jatuh gaung didakwa esok Lelaki tolak isteri jatuh gaung didakwa esok](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723693423_TBTOLAKISTERI.jpg)
Lelaki tolak isteri jatuh gaung didakwa esok
Suspek kes pukul dan tolak isteri ke dalam gaung di Kilometer 31.2 Jalan Raya Timur Barat (JRTB) Gerik-Jeli dekat Gerik, Julai lalu akan didakwa di mahkamah pada Jumaat.
![KDNK suku kedua dijangka lebih baik, hasil positif ekonomi MADANI - Ahli ekonomi KDNK suku kedua dijangka lebih baik, hasil positif ekonomi MADANI - Ahli ekonomi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/71682503318_PEMANTAUANUDARAAPM.jpg)
KDNK suku kedua dijangka lebih baik, hasil positif ekonomi MADANI - Ahli ekonomi
Prestasi paling penting ialah peningkatan perbelanjaan isi rumah, disebabkan oleh keyakinan isi rumah yang semakin baik.
![Jenazah Nidza Afham dikebumi di Puncak Alam Jenazah Nidza Afham dikebumi di Puncak Alam](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723691432_NidzaAfham.jpg)
Jenazah Nidza Afham dikebumi di Puncak Alam
Solat jenazah akan diadakan di Masjid Puncak Alam sebelum dikebumikan di Tapak Perkuburan Felda Bukit Cherakah selepas solat Zohor hari ini.
![Ibu Menteri Besar Kedah meninggal dunia Ibu Menteri Besar Kedah meninggal dunia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723690075_ibumeninggalduni.jpg)
Ibu Menteri Besar Kedah meninggal dunia
Allahyarham Meriam Ahmad menghembuskan nafas terakhir pada usia 74 tahun di Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar.
![Skuad bola tampar pantai Pulau Pinang berlatih di Songkhla Skuad bola tampar pantai Pulau Pinang berlatih di Songkhla](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723688922_bolatamparsukma.jpg)
Skuad bola tampar pantai Pulau Pinang berlatih di Songkhla
Pasukan bola tampar pantai Pulau Pinang di Pantai Samila, Songkhla selama lima hari sebagai persediaan menggalas cabaran membawa pulang pingat pada SUKMA 2024.
![Pemandu treler maut, nahas lima kenderaan di PLUS arah utara Pemandu treler maut, nahas lima kenderaan di PLUS arah utara](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723688542_KemalanganMaut.jpg)
Pemandu treler maut, nahas lima kenderaan di PLUS arah utara
Kemalangan melibatkan lima buah kenderaan termasuk tiga buah treler, sebuah lori satu tan dan sebuah MPV Toyota Vellfire.
Niaga AWANI: Jiwa SME: Kuih tradisonal sejuk beku 'diterbangkan' ke Tanah Suci
Inovasi pembuatan makanan sejuk beku, terutama kuih muih tradisional telah berjaya membawa produk itu ke peringkat global, terutama dalam memenuhi citarasa jemaah haji dan umrah rakyat Malaysia di Tanah Suci Mekah dan Madinah.
Global Financial Shifts: What emerging economies need to know
We're looking at recent shifts in the global financial scene. Today, we'll talk about how lower inflation and possible Fed rate cuts could impact investor confidence, global stability, and important sectors like tech and real estate. We'll also see how these changes might affect emerging economies like Malaysia, a key player in global trade. Let's break down these topics to understand what they mean for the future.
![MyJPJ rekod lebih RM28 juta transaksi dalam tempoh sebulan MyJPJ rekod lebih RM28 juta transaksi dalam tempoh sebulan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723687760_AedyFadlyRamli.jpg)
MyJPJ rekod lebih RM28 juta transaksi dalam tempoh sebulan
JPJ merekodkan kutipan lebih RM28 juta menerusi aplikasi MyJPJ bulan lepas iaitu sebulan selepas transaksi dalam talian diperkenalkan pada Jun.