Image copyright Reuters Image caption A wrecked car stood outside one of the banks targeted by the gang

At least five hostages, including a child, have died as armed police battled robbers who had tried to raid two banks in north-east Brazil. Brazil bank robbery: Five hostages and six robbers have been shot dead

Gunfire erupted in the city of Milagres, in the state of Ceara, when police were waiting as the robbers attempted to escape from the second bank. Mayor Lielson Landin told Radio Band News: "Our information from the hospital is 11 victims killed - six bandits and five hostages.”

Landin added that “the criminals killed the hostages, and police killed the criminals”. Landim had earlier said that, based on initial information, he understood that “the criminals killed the hostages and the police killed the criminals.”

“A heavily armed group arrived in the town in the early hours and went to the centre where they tried to commit the crime. Some Brazilian media gave higher death tolls, of up to 13, and said the child killed was a 14-year-old boy.
Eleven people die, including five hostages, as armed police battle robbers who had tried to raid two banks in Milagres, Ceará, Brazil.