(CNN Spanish) -
Almost 30 unknown persons, carrying heavy caliber weapons, invaded and robbed a branch of the Bank of Brazil in the center of Criciúma, in the state of Santa Catarina, in the south of the country.
Several people were taken hostage, reported the state news agency Agencia Brasil.
As in an action movie scene, they set fire to a truck in front of the Police battalion to block the exit of the vehicles.
The head of the Civil Police, responsible for the investigation, Ulisses Gabriel, pointed out that the robbery began shortly before midnight on Tuesday, when the first shots were fired at the police battalion.
The agents had to travel almost 2 kilometers on foot to reach the bank branch, where their regional treasury operates.
So far there is no estimate of the amount that was stolen, according to Agencia Brasil.
At least 810,000 reais (just over US $ 150,000) were recovered, which were left in the place and later stolen by neighbors.
In this sense, Gabriel told Radio Nacional that 4 people, who had money found in their homes, were arrested.
Some 30 kilos of unexploded explosive devices remained at the scene, and a bomb battalion and an anti-theft and kidnapping division were summoned.
Spectacular gold robbery at Guarulhos airport in Sao Paulo
Images and security cameras are being analyzed since many shots were fired in the center of the city that hit buildings and buildings.
The delegate added that a military policeman was shot and a hostage was attacked by unknown persons.
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Upon leaving the place, the unknown persons used about 10 vehicles and headed towards the municipality of Nova Veneza, about 10 kilometers from Criciúma, where they would have abandoned their cars and took other cars in their place.
In a statement, the Civil Police of Santa Catarina indicates that they work together with other local forces and federal agencies, to identify and find the whereabouts of the perpetrators of the crime.
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the mayor of Criciúma, Clésio Salvaro, had warned the population about this "large-scale" assault and asked that they not leave their homes.
- Marcos Moreno contributed to this report.
Bank robbery
