Angry Mob Burns Down Brazilian Police Station

SAO PAULO – Officials say an angry mob wanting to lynch an imprisoned murder suspect burned and looted a police station in northeastern Brazil.

A spokeswoman for the Maranhao state public safety department says about 500 people on Thursday tried to lynch Jose Fonseca, who was accused of killing a farmer who tried to stop him from stealing a chicken. She declined to be identified in accordance with department policy.

She says that the crowd stormed destroyed the police station after police arrested Fonseca. She says 25 prisoners escaped in the confusion. Five inmates have since been recaptured. One police officer was shot and wounded in the knee.

She says the crowd also stole office equipment and some weapons.