Rio de Janeiro tourism officials say 'violence has returned'

Tourism bodies have urged authorities to take action in Rio de Janeiro after a man was stabbed while cycling around Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. v5n8n8a2

In the latest of a string of attacks, 57-year-old doctor Jaime Gold, was set upon by two teenagers on Tuesday night as he rode around the city lake, which will host Olympic rowing and canoeing next year.

Mr Gold was stabbed in the arm and the stomach, and later died from his injuries in hospital on Wednesday.

The attack happened in one of Rio’s most scenic spots behind Ipanema beach and in sight of the Christ the Redeemer statue, prompting concerns over a rise in violence.

There have been reports of at least three stabbings in attempted muggings across the city this month alone.

A Vietnamese visitor was knifed during an assault in downtown Rio on May 17. The 39-year-old woman was stabbed in the back but survived.
 A Brazilian woman was also attacked with a knife in Laranjeiras, a neighbourhood in the wealthy south of Rio, on May 8.

In February, a 51-year-old German tourist was stabbed to death, also in downtown. Fred Miesino and his wife, Sybelle Jurth, were reportedly in Brazil for the annual Carnival celebrations to see Mrs Jurth’s violinist daughter perform during the parade, when they were attacked near the city’s cathedral

But the latest incident in a beauty spot stunned the city with many speaking out about the lack of security.

“Unfortunately, violence has returned to be part of our daily routine,” said Alfredo Lopes, president of the Brazilian Hotel Industry Association (ABIH).

“We have returned to the stage of alerts to visitors and episodes involving consulates with a focus on the lack of security.”

Mr Lopes cited three recent local cases as well as the two tourists who were stabbed in Rio this year. He blamed the Brazilian justice system for failing to give police sufficient powers to detain offenders.
 “No economic activity suffers more from crime, from violence on the streets and the perception of insecurity than tourism,” he added.

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“An update of the legislation, which does nothing but promote the certainty of impunity, is urgent. What else needs to happen? How long will we remain hostages?”

Immediate police reinforcements in Lagoa were announced on Wednesday in the aftermath of the fatal stabbing, including police checks on buses and extra support for tourist police.

A protest against violence around the Lagoa is also planned for this Sunday by regular cyclists, runners and walkers.

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The security secretary for the state of Rio de Janeiro said such crime in Lagoa was “unacceptable.”

“What happened in Lagoa was lamentable, or rather, more than lamentable, it was unacceptable,” José Mariano Beltrame said in a video statement released on Wednesday.

“Lagoa is a place cherished by everyone from Rio, a place frequented by Rio’s population and by the population of foreigners, by all the tourisTs who come to Rio de Janeiro. This cannot happen.”

Source :AFP