Will Athletes and Fans Be Safe in Rio?

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -A police shootout with criminals stopped a commuter train and sent passengers fleeing for cover. Officers conducted a drug raid on a slum, keeping 2000 children out of school. Police got into gun battles that killed …

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Approximately 48,000 illegal deaths occur in Brazil each year, making the country’s homicide rate one of the highest in the world.

Following this rate, more than 2,000 homicides in Brazil during the 17 day Panam Games 2007 Competition 

Brazil murder rate is still similar to war zone. There are a few thousand more civilians killed every year in Brazil than in three years of war in Iraq

Figures according to UN report on Brazilian arbitrary, summary, or extra-judicial executions, elaborated by the special investigator Philip Alston, and published in September 2008.

More Police? In 2007, the active police forces killed one person per day. In Rio de Janeiro, active police forces are responsible for almost 18% of all deaths, killing three people per day.

The advice of American Consulate website –

RIO DE JANEIRO: The city continues to experience a high incidence of crime.  Tourists are particularly vulnerable to street thefts and robberies in areas adjacent to major tourist attractions and on the main beaches in the city.  In 2008 there were attacks along trails leading to the famous Corcovado Mountain, on the road linking the airport and the South Zone and on the beaches of Copacabana.   Travelers are advised not to take possessions of value to the beach.  Robbers and rapists sometimes slip incapacitating drugs into their drinks at bars, hotel rooms, or street parties.  While crime occurs throughout the year, it is more frequent during Carnaval and the weeks prior.  In the weeks before Carnaval 2009, robbers ransacked two tourist hostels.  Travelers should be aware of their surroundings and victims are advised to relinquish personal belongings rather than resist or fight back.  Tourists should choose lodging carefully, considering security and availability of a safe to store valuables, as well as location.  Over the past year, attacks against motorists increased.  In Rio de Janeiro City, motorists are allowed to treat stoplights as stop signs between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. to protect against holdups at intersections.

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