Police task force formed to investigate Brazil killings

(Vatican Radio) A special police task force has been established to investigate the vigilante killings of 18 people and the wounding of seven others, on the outskirts of the Brazilian city of Sao Paolo. As James Blears reports, forensic tests could hold the key to finding as well as arresting the perpetrators who took  the law into their own hands.

Listen to James Blears’ report:

In a killing spree lasting two and a half hours, masked gunmen cruised around in cars, got out of them and launched attacks. The worst incident was at a bar, when customers were ordered to put their hands up. Unusually, gunmen questioned them—and those who had criminal records or who were apparently recognized, were shot.

Authorities have established a fifty strong police task force to investigate the vigilante homicides, which have nothing to do with real justice. While forensic experts are examining piles of spent cartridges from the massacre scenes.

The shootings follow the killing of a police officer and a civil guard. One primary directive is to tighten security to try and insure there are no more flare ups of violence. These incidents bear unmistakable hallmarks of revenge attacks. The question remains if they've been committed by rogue police officers or it's a feud between drug cartels.