Police helicopter shot down in Rio
Police helicopter shot down in Rio
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Sunday, 18, Oct 2009 05:48
By Richard James.
A police helicopter was shot down during a fierce gun battle between rival gangs in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.
The helicopter had been hovering over a shoot-out between police and drug traffickers in the Morro dos Macacos slum in the north of the city when it was shot at.
The pilot was shot in the leg, causing him to lose control and crash.
Two police officers died in the crash, while the pilot and three others escaped after the helicopter smashed into a football field and burst into flames.
The incident has raised concerns over security levels in Rio ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games and the 2014 World Cup.
Brazilian officials though have said Rio's ongoing crime problems will not be solved overnight.
Instead money is being poured into schemes aimed at reducing violence and crime and plans for vast security programmes are being drafted for the hosting of the global sporting events.
Governor of Rio state, Sergio Cabral, told reporters: "We told the International Olympic Committee that this won't be an easy thing and they know that.
"We can put 40,000 people on the streets — federal, state and municipal police — and pull off the event."
The downing of the helicopter occurred five miles away from one of the zones where the 2016 Olympics will be held.