8/30/2021- 7:21 p.m.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:
Heavily-armed assailants stormed a small city in southeast Brazil early Monday, in a brazen operation to rob banks that included explosives, charred vehicles and hostages that were tied to the roof of cars.
The mayhem in Araçatuba, a city that is home to some 200,000 in São Paulo state, left at least three people dead, police officials said Monday morning.
The mayor urged residents to stay home while police experts sought to defuse 14 makeshift bombs that were installed in the downtown area as part of the assault.
Photos and videos residents posted on social media showed several cars with hostages tied to the roof, a chilling tactic that appeared designed to prevent the police from opening fire on getaway vehicles.
