Gunmen attack Brazil army troops occupying slum in Rio de Janeiro

Published January 08, 2015

The Brazilian army says gunmen have launched at least five attacks against troops in the Rio de Janeiro slum complex occupied on Saturday in a bid to improve security two months before the start of the World Cup soccer tournament.

The army says in a note the attacks were carried out Monday night by pistol-wielding gunmen in the Mare complex of 15 slums in northern Rio.

One motorcyclist was wounded in the arm. None of the troops were wounded.

The occupation is part of the government's "pacifying police force" strategy aimed at taking over some of Rio's more than 1,000 slums before Brazil plays host to the World Cup as well as the 2016 Olympics.

The troops are expected to remain in Mare until the end of July.

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