18 Dead in Wave of Violence in RioBy LARRY ROHTER
Published: December 28, 2006RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 28 — Heavily-armed drug gangs unleashed a wave of attacks on police stations and public roadways here early today, and at least 18 people were killed in the confrontations.
Seven victims died in a single incident, a pre-dawn assault on an interstate bus bound for Säo Paulo. Survivors said that about 8 armed men stopped and boarded the bus, robbed those aboard and then set fire to the vehicle before the 28 passengers could get off.
At least eight police stations and street posts were also reported to have been attacked by gangs armed with grenades and machine guns. The dead in those episodes included not only criminals and police officers involved in the shootouts, but also street vendors, pedestrians and ordinary citizens filing complaints at police stations.
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