Americas News
Drug gang occupies Rio hotel, sets off hostage crisis
Aug 22, 2010, 13:37 GMT
Rio de Janeiro - A heavily armed gang fleeing police stormed into the Intercontinental Hotel on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, holding more than 30 guests and workers hostage for several hours.
The hostages were freed from the hotel after negotiations.
The suspected drug gang from the Rocinha slum had earlier engaged police in a 40-minute gunfight before taking over the beach hotel in Rio's tony Sao Conrado district.
One woman who was reportedly wanted by police was killed in the shootout, and several police officers suffered gunshot wounds.
The hotel reportedly had about 400 guests at the time of Saturday's incident.
Police arrested 10 suspects and seized a large cache of firearms and grenades.
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