Update 18:00 local time: Police have confirmed the attacker has turned himself in to authorities while all hostages have been released unharmed.
Update 17:09 local time: Police have clarified that 15 people have been taken hostage.
Update 17:25 local time: One of the injured, a 35-year-old by the name of Bruno Lima da Costa, has been sent to Souza Aguiar hospital for surgery.
Update 17:34 local time: Police have clarified that 17 people have been taken hostage, while the second injured victim faced only minor wounds from shrapnel and received treatment at the bus station’s local medical center.
Update 17:44 local time: The attacker reportedly fired two shots at police while negotiations are still ongoing. The reason for the hostage taking is currently unknown.
At least two people have been injured, while 18 others, including children, have been taken hostage at Rio de Janeiro’s main bus station, according to local media.
The situation reportedly began when a man attempted to rob the bus.
GloboNews, a Brazilian news outlet, has reported that shots have been fired while special forces have been deployed alongside a negotiator to free the hostages.
Police have evacuated the bus station while they continue negotiations.
A @PMERJ informa que todos os 17 reféns da Rodoviária do Rio foram libertados, após o bem sucedido trabalho de negociação liderado pelo #BOPE. O criminoso está preso e a arma utilizada apreendida.#Informação #Oficial #PMERJ #ServireProteger pic.twitter.com/3xwEE4paRP
— @pmerj (@PMERJ) March 12, 2024
Há crianças entre as 18 pessoas mantidas reféns por um homem que tentou assaltar um ônibus na Rodoviária Novo Rio, região central do Rio de Janeiro. Negociadores do Bope tentam a libertação dos reféns. Antes, houve troca de tiros, e três pessoas foram atingidas. Uma das vítimas… pic.twitter.com/BokZGHVimR
— GloboNews (@GloboNews) March 12, 2024
