On Tuesday, chaos erupted at Rio de Janeiro's main bus station as a gunman opened fire, injuring two people and holding 16 passengers hostage for a tense three-hour standoff before ultimately surrendering to police.
The incident occurred at the Novo Rio station, a bustling transportation hub through which thousands of people pass daily, with buses departing to various regions across Brazil. Witnesses described scenes of panic as gunshots echoed through the station, prompting the assailant to board a bus and take hostages, including a child and several elderly individuals, for reasons that have not yet been disclosed by authorities.
One victim, a 34-year-old man, sustained serious injuries after being shot in the chest and abdomen, while another person was hospitalized with less severe injuries, according to Rio health secretary Daniel Soranz.
The crisis came to an end when the hostage-taker surrendered to authorities, allowing all hostages to be safely released. Police, including agents from the elite Special Operations Battalion, had cordoned off the station and negotiated with the assailant throughout the ordeal.
The identity of the gunman has not been revealed, but Rio military police secretary Luiz Henrique Marinho suggested that the individual may have been attempting to flee the city due to "problems in his faction," possibly referring to involvement with a criminal gang.
Rio state Governor Claudio Castro commended the police response, describing it as "exemplary."
Bus hijackings, though rare, are not unprecedented in Rio de Janeiro. Previous incidents in the city have resulted in injuries and fatalities, reflecting the ongoing challenges of crime and violence in Brazil's second-largest city, particularly in its sprawling favelas, where gang and drug-related conflicts often occur.
