The incident is taking place at the Rio-Niterói Bridge, which connects the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Niterói. The man has reportedly seized a bus on the bridge. There are no immediate details as to how many people are on the bus.
A masked man, suspected of being a military police officer, has seized a bus in Brazil on the Rio-Niterói Bridge and taken several people hostage.
Passageiros são feitos reféns durante assalto em ônibus na Ponte Rio-Niterói. Cerca de 50 policiais rodoviários federais e militares negociam com um homem armado que está sob posse de um ônibus na Ponte Rio-Niterói, no sentido Rio, que está completamente interditada. (+) pic.twitter.com/yY2P4RfLJG
— BandNews FM – Rio (@bandnewsfmrio) August 20, 2019
According to initial reports, the hostage-taking was reported to have taken place at 5:30 am on Tuesday, when a masked person threw a burning object out of the vehicle. The seemingly disoriented hijacker reportedly identified himself as a military policeman, ordered the driver to pull over and then cross the bridge to Rio. However, the man has released four people.
Ponte Rio-Niteroi, sentido Rio, totalmente parada. Um homem armado faz ônibus com reféns. Polícia negocia e três já foram liberados. Trânsito caótico em Niterói e São Gonçalo. #SequestroPonte pic.twitter.com/3o8GGc4DS7
— Vinicius de Assumpçao (@viniciusasbfr) August 20, 2019
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