On 1 December 2020, an unidentified armed group targeted several banks in Cametá, a town located approximately 230 km (140 mi) southwest of Belém, the capital of Pará state. Concurrently, armed men attacked a local military police station, which prevented some police units from responding to the scene of the bank robberies. Reports indicate that the bandits used hostages as shields while making their escape, during which one person was killed and another was shot in the leg and later hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities have requested that residents remain in their homes as the investigation and search for the assailants continues.
Analyst Comment: In a similar event that occurred overnight on 30 November-1 December, an unidentified armed group robbed four banks in Criciúma, Santa Catarina, a city located on the opposite end of the country. The two events appear similar in scope and strategy.
