Terrified vacationers were caught up in an intense gunfight between a Rio de Janeiro drugs gang and police, during which gang members invaded a luxury hotel and took 35 people hostage. The gang fought off police with machine guns and rifles as it sought to make its way back to Rocinha, with several gang members fleeing on foot or forcing passing motorists to drive them away. The shootout lasted about 40 minutes leaving the surrounding streets littered with bullet casings.
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