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Rio police claim victory over drug gangs after gun battle
Source: Agencies |
November 29, 2010, Monday
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RIO police, backed by helicopters and armored vehicles, invaded a shantytown complex long held by traffickers yesterday, quickly taking over the key drug gang stronghold, a top official said.
Black-clad officers from elite police units entered the Alemao slum complex amid heavy fire, with TV images showing police and army helicopters flying low to support the men on the ground as hundreds of drug gang members tried to hold their position.
But the officers encountered less resistance than expected and claimed victory, saying police were controlling the shantytown complex although many gang members still remained inside.
"We won," said Mario Sergio Duarte, head of Rio state's military police. "We have brought freedom to the residents of Alemao."
Officers on the ground, however, said they hadn't completely taken over the complex, and that gunmen were still fighting back. Gunfire could be heard in the area.
"Without any doubt we know there are gang members holed up inside this slum still and we've got to go in and take them out," said one solider at the base of the slum.
"Now it's time to be patient," Duarte said. "We've taken over the territory but it doesn't mean that we won't have confrontations with the gang members still inside. We have to be careful because they may be trying to set up traps for our men."
At least five police helicopters were hovering over the Alemao, helping provide intelligence on where the gang members might be.
Police and troops started moving up the slum inside armored vehicles as residents watched from their windows in shacks along steep hills. Armored personnel carriers were moving in and out of the slum entrances on its southern edge, carrying soldiers with their faces painted.
Rifle casings littered the streets for three blocks around the slum, and bloodied bandages were scattered on the ground near entrances, where soldiers and police crouched behind buildings aiming their rifles toward the slum.
Vehicles from the forestry service were seen moving around the shantytown, carrying soldiers to jungle areas inside the slum to cut back trees and block any possible escape routes.
The human rights organization Amnesty International complained that police had been too heavy-handed in their offensive, but many Rio residents seemed to welcome the stance. People applauded as armored vehicles rolled by and voiced hope that a new push would reclaim areas of their city that had been lawless for years.
Black-clad officers from elite police units entered the Alemao slum complex amid heavy fire, with TV images showing police and army helicopters flying low to support the men on the ground as hundreds of drug gang members tried to hold their position.
But the officers encountered less resistance than expected and claimed victory, saying police were controlling the shantytown complex although many gang members still remained inside.
"We won," said Mario Sergio Duarte, head of Rio state's military police. "We have brought freedom to the residents of Alemao."
Officers on the ground, however, said they hadn't completely taken over the complex, and that gunmen were still fighting back. Gunfire could be heard in the area.
"Without any doubt we know there are gang members holed up inside this slum still and we've got to go in and take them out," said one solider at the base of the slum.
"Now it's time to be patient," Duarte said. "We've taken over the territory but it doesn't mean that we won't have confrontations with the gang members still inside. We have to be careful because they may be trying to set up traps for our men."
At least five police helicopters were hovering over the Alemao, helping provide intelligence on where the gang members might be.
Police and troops started moving up the slum inside armored vehicles as residents watched from their windows in shacks along steep hills. Armored personnel carriers were moving in and out of the slum entrances on its southern edge, carrying soldiers with their faces painted.
Rifle casings littered the streets for three blocks around the slum, and bloodied bandages were scattered on the ground near entrances, where soldiers and police crouched behind buildings aiming their rifles toward the slum.
Vehicles from the forestry service were seen moving around the shantytown, carrying soldiers to jungle areas inside the slum to cut back trees and block any possible escape routes.
The human rights organization Amnesty International complained that police had been too heavy-handed in their offensive, but many Rio residents seemed to welcome the stance. People applauded as armored vehicles rolled by and voiced hope that a new push would reclaim areas of their city that had been lawless for years.
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