Crime Gang Helps Itself To EasterBounty

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - (04/18/06)– Police said on Monday a group upto 15 armed masked bandits raided the lobby of one of the City Hallcomplex buildings on Easter Sunday, taking some 35 people hostageas they opened several automatic teller machines and then fled withan unspecified sum in cash. The bandits took 15 guards and 20maintenance workers hostage during the raid that lasted about 40minutes. Rio‘s municipal guards carry no firearms. Theassailants also stole one of the guards‘ motorcycles. It wasthe second attack on the complex in two months. In February, anarmed guard from a cash transporting company was killed and threepeople were wounded in an intense shootout outside City Hall when agang tried to hold up a cash truck.