A gang armed with guns and with meticulous planning attacked at least one bank Monday morning in Aracatuba, Brazil, according to BBC News report After the robbery, the gang surrounded the local military police station and took a number of hostages. It is not clear how much money the gang stole. It is reported that the gangs monitored the police's movements by using drones. Video footage recorded by local residents showed the hostages being tied up in the gang's vehicles. Another video shows the hostages being forced at gunpoint to walk on the road and being used as a human shield. The main roads leading to the city were blocked by the gang after they set cars on fire, but no injuries were reported. The mayor of Aracatuba Dilador Borges told citizens to stay at home, warning that the gang had placed explosive devices throughout the city. He added that the city has been retaken but police do not yet know if the hostages have been released. The police have not been able to confront them because many lives are at risk. In recent years, bank robberies punctuated by shootings and hostage-taking have become very frequent in Brazil. In 2017, gangs had taken over several different locations across Aracatuba city, attacking police stations and blocking roads to rob a private security company. — Agencies
