Police in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo killed more people between January and September than they did during the same period for the past 10 years, including twice as many as the same period a year ago, according to recently released government data.
Sao Paulo's Public Safety Department said on its website that 478 people were killed in confrontations with police during the first nine months of this year, almost 100 percent more than 2013.
During the same time, 10 police officers were killed on duty, the lowest period in 10 years.
Jose Vicente da Silva, of the Center of Advanced Security Studies of the Sao Paulo police department said the all-or-nothing attitude by suspected criminals has largely contributed to the increase in the number of people killed.
"Rather than turn themselves in to the police, criminals prefer to open fire. This is what is causing the increase," da Silva told the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper. He did say however, it was a worrisome situation, "and prosecutors should investigate the legality of each case."
--The Associated Press
