Police vs. Gangs in Brazil: Citizens Caught in the Middle
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Policemen take position next to a burned vehicle during an operation against drug traffickers at the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday. (AP)
A vehicle set on fire during riots at Rio Comprido shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Authorities say that gang members, have erected roadblocks on major highways to rob motorists, torched more than 40 cars and buses, and shot up police posts, all to protest against a security program that has been pushing them from slums where they've held sway for decades. (AP)
Policemen arrive to take part in an operation against drug traffickers at the Complexo de Alemáo slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At least 23 people have been killed in clashes since late Sunday, most of them suspected drug gang members, and police has arrested more than 150 people in raids on nearly 30 shantytowns in the northern and western parts of Rio. (AP)
A policeman tells residents to take cover during an operation against drug traffickers at the Complexo de Alemáo slum in Rio de Janeiro. (AP)
Alleged gang members aim their weapons during a police operation at the Complexo de Alemáo slum in Rio de Janeiro. (AP)
Firefighters work to extinguish the fire on a bus allegedly burned by drug traffickers at the Maria da Graça neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP)
A policeman runs during the operation against drug traffickers at the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Police in Rio entered the heavily fortified slum in an effort to apprehend drug gang leaders they blame for days of widespread violence in the city. (AP)
A police officer rides a motorcycle past a vehicle set on fire during riots at Rio Comprido shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP)
Residents stand next to a vehicle allegedly burned by drug traffickers at the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP)
A firefighter tries to extinguish the fire on a bus allegedly set by drug traffickers at the Maria da Graça neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP)
A policeman stops a man on a motorcycle during an operation in the Complexo de Alemáo slum, in Rio de Janeiro. (AP)
A woman runs past policemen taking positions during an operation in the Complexo de Alemáo slum, in Rio de Janeiro. (AP)
A man is searched by police during an operation against drug traffickers in Complexo de Alemáo slum, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP)