News Screen – Violence involving armed gangs in Rio de Janeiro has again sparked chaos, after a number of criminal groups hijacked and burned buses as part of a conflict with police.
The latest incident occurred after a police operation killed a drug ring leader in one of the favelas. Not long after, a group of armed men stopped a bus, unloaded all the passengers, then set it on fire in the middle of the road.
“Everything happened very quickly. They forced us to get off and immediately set the bus on fire,” said a driver who experienced the incident.
Also read: Polish copper and silver mines are key to global energy
The phenomenon of bus hijacking is not new in this city of nearly seven million people. Clashes between police and criminal groups often occur in densely populated residential areas, and buses are often used as a tool to hinder the movement of officers and block roads.
Data from local transport operators shows that hundreds of buses have been used as barricades in recent years. In one major operation last year, more than 100 buses were hijacked in a short time.
This condition has a direct impact on community activities, especially residents in low-income areas…
