2 people shot dead near Rio Olympic venues
Two people were killed by gunfire near Olympic sites in Rio, Brazil on the Games’ opening day on Friday, police reported.
A woman was killed by muggers while she was driving by the main entrances to the Olympic Boulevard, Reuters reported.
The 51-year-old was attacked by three males and received a bullet to the head after she attempted to escape perpetrators.
Later, a robber was gunned down by police near the Rio Games’ main venue, the Maracana stadium.
"The man was carrying out assaults when a military police officer... shot him," the police said in a statement.
An officer, who arrived in Rio from another part of the country as security reinforcement, was involved in the incident, it added.
On Saturday, the bomb squad carried out a controlled detonation near the finish line of the men’s Olympic cycling road race course in Rio.
A back pack, which likely belonged to a homeless man, was blown up, in accordance with protocol, police said.
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Some 85,000 troops and police officers are involved in providing security at the Games in the city of Rio, which is known for its high crime rate.
A police presence also increased in Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Manaus, Salvador and Sao Paulo where Olympic football matches are being held.
