Residents of the Brazilian border town attacked Venezuelan immigrants after a local storeowner was robbed, stabbed and beaten in an assault blamed on four migrants, authorities said.
After a rally held to protest the attack against the storeowner, groups of residents roamed the town hurling rocks at the immigrants and setting fire to their belongings.
Police said the storeowner, who was beaten and robbed has been hospitalized and is in stable condition.After crossing back into their country, Venezuelans migrants attacked a group of 30 Brazilians who were shopping across the border and who had to be taken to a shelter. Venezuela’s government expressed concern about reports of attacks on its citizens and a “massive eviction” of Venezuelans, and asked Brazil to guarantee their safety. A foreign ministry statement said the violence was fueled by xenophobia.
Brazilian army soldiers stationed at Pacaraima to help maintain order asked Venezuelan immigrants to return across the border for their own safety.
After a rally held to protest the attack against the storeowner, groups of residents roamed the town hurling rocks at the immigrants and setting fire to their belongings.
Police said the storeowner, who was beaten and robbed has been hospitalized and is in stable condition.After crossing back into their country, Venezuelans migrants attacked a group of 30 Brazilians who were shopping across the border and who had to be taken to a shelter. Venezuela’s government expressed concern about reports of attacks on its citizens and a “massive eviction” of Venezuelans, and asked Brazil to guarantee their safety. A foreign ministry statement said the violence was fueled by xenophobia.
Brazilian army soldiers stationed at Pacaraima to help maintain order asked Venezuelan immigrants to return across the border for their own safety.
