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Tourists robbed, briefly held inside Rio hostel

Brazilian police say gunmen invaded a hostel packed with tourists attending a popular music festival in Rio de Janeiro, briefly detaining them before fleeing with their valuables.
/ Source: The Associated Press

Brazilian police say gunmen invaded a hostel packed with tourists attending a popular music festival in Rio de Janeiro, briefly detaining them before fleeing with their valuables.

An officer with Rio's tourist police says most of the nearly 20 people robbed early Sunday were Brazilians, but at least three Frenchmen also were in the group. Their identities were not immediately released.

Officer Marcos Moreira said about five gunmen entered the hostel and tied up some of the tourists so they could steal their belongings, including cash, electronics and clothes.

There were no injuries reported among the tourists, who traveled to the city for the worldwide popular music festival headlined by Elton John, Katy Perry and Shakira.