Rio de Janeiro is in the midst of a violent crime wave that is “out of control,” according to police officials. Drug gangs that traditionally have been most active in the slums on the edge of the city have attacked police units, shopping malls, supermarkets, tourist hotels and the main highways linking the airport and the tourist center. They even shot up an outdoor cafe at a university as part of a threat to attack civilians in an effort to intimidate the police. The vast majority of Rio’s tourist attractions have not been directly affected by such violence, but the situation could escalate and the course of events cannot be predicted.
