Since
August 2017, 9mm bullets have been restricted for use by the
military, federal police, and civil police forces.
Investigators
discovered 9mm bullet casings, restricted for use by the military,
military police and civil police forces, near the spot where
assailants fired 20 rounds from a car at the Marisa Leticia camp
(part of the larger Free Lula vigil) in Curitiba, Brazil, early
Saturday morning.
Two
people were injured in the attack, with one of them, Jefferson Lima
de Menezes, said to be in serious condition with a bullet wound that
penetrated his neck. Nobody has been arrested in connection to the
armed assault.
Prior to
August 2017, only the army and federal police were authorized to use
9mm bullets. Then, via a decision made by the Brazilian army,
military and civil police forces, along with other security agents,
were authorized to employ the firearm cartridge for personal use,
according to Brasil 24/7.
According
to eyewitnesses, the occupants of a car, which had arrived near the
Marisa Leticia camp at 2:00 a.m. local time, shouted mottoes
associated with Rio de Janeiro congressman and far right-wing
presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro before gunshots were heard
nearly two hours later.
Following
the attack, the Free Lula camp released a public statement denouncing
the “attempted murder” and “state of emergency that harms their
right to mobilize.”
“We
will continue our activities, struggle, schedule, and debates
organized as part of the vigil. It becomes even more impressive, with
each passing day, how, despite his incarceration, former president
Lula's public image gains moral force and complaints against his
unjust imprisonment increase," the camp's organizers said while
calling for swift action by police to find the culprits and bring
them to justice.
Speaking
with reporters after the attack, Rio de Janeiro state senator,
Lindbergh Farias, questioned the motives behind the attack. “What
do they want, another Marielle?”
Last
month, investigators revealed that 9mm bullets that killed Brazilian
councilwoman and Black activist Marielle Franco, along with her
driver, Anderson Gomes, were part of a lot bought by federal police
in 2006. The ammunition was apparently stolen and has been used in
more than 50 crimes since, a source told Reuters on condition of
anonymity, because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.
Deemed a
political assassination by many, nobody has been arrested in
Marielle's execution on Mar. 15.
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