Robbers invaded Portugal’s consulate in Rio de Janeiro and held consul hostage
According to the newspaper O Globo, the Civil Police have already been on the spot to carry out inspections.
To police officers, witnesses said that the assailants were armed and did not know that the consulate was functioning there, believing that it was just a mansion.
According to the testimony of a neighbor, cited by Globo, all the hostages were languished in one of the rooms of the residence under the surveillance of two of the assailants for about 50 minutes, having managed to take away valuable local objects.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs has already assured that the Portuguese consul general in Rio de Janeiro and his family “are doing well”, after having been created after an “armed robbery” in his official residence.
“I confirm that unfortunately there was today [sábado] an armed robbery (…) to the residence of our consul general in Rio de Janeiro, of which he was the victim of the consul general and his family, fortunately without personal consequences,” stated Augusto Santos Silva.
The robbery took place “during the night” and “there was neither violence nor injuries, but several personal belongings of the ambassador, who is our consul general in Rio de Janeiro, were stolen,” added the minister.
“I spoke to the Consul General about half an hour ago and, therefore, I can confirm that he is fine and that unfortunately there was this robbery and that the robbery was armed, by a group of men, and the result of this is to lament the theft of various goods, “he said.
“The consul general and his family are doing well, they have recovered from the hardship they went through” and now the “Brazilian police are already taking care of the incident and trying to find the culprits”, said Augusto Santos Silva.