Brazilian police kill 11 alleged robbers in ATM heist shootout

Reuters in São Paulo
Thu 4 Apr 2019 21.21 BST First published on Thu 4 Apr 2019 17.20 BST

Police in São Paulo state have shot and killed 11 assailants who were preparing to simultaneously blow up ATMs at two branches early on Thursday, authorities said.

São Paulo state’s public security secretariat said in a statement that about 25 suspects were involved in the attempts to blow up the machines to get at the cash inside, a common type of crime in Brazil. Along with the 11 killed, another two men were arrested. No money was stolen.

One of the banks was located next to a police station.

“These criminals were prepared for war,” said Alvaro Batista Camilo, head of São Paulo state’s police force.

The would-be robbers drove up to the banks in five armored cars and were armed with high-caliber rifles and body armor, authorities said.

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