Six Haitians Are Shot During Attack in the Center of São Paulo

08/10/2015 - 09h40

Six Haitians were shot on Friday, August 1, on Glicério street, in the center of São Paulo city, says the Municipal Department of Health.

The victims were shot at waist height and in the legs and are not at risk, although two of them still have bullets inside their bodies.

Priest Paulo Parisi, responsible for the Nossa Senhora da Paz parish, which receives immigrants on Glicério street, says he doesn't know yet if what drove the shooters was xenophobia or revenge, as one of the Haitians recovered the purse of a woman who had been robbed on Glicério street and returned it to her.

According to the Municipal Department of Human Rights and Civic Responsibility, the police report registered at the 8th Police Precinct in Brás neighborhood says "one of the passengers in the vehicle driving by shouted "Haitian!" and then opened fired."

The Municipal Department of Human Rights and Civic Responsibility said that it is aware of the facts and that it "laments the act and stresses the department's commitment to fight any kind of violence or act of xenophobia in the city."

Folha contacted the State Department of Security which said it is still investigating the case.

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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