BANK ROBBERS STRAPPED HOSTAGES TO THE TOP OF THEIR GATEWAY VEHICLES AFTER A RAID IN THE SOUTHERN BRAZILIAN CITY OF ARACATUBA.

On the foreign scene, Bank robbers strapped hostages to the top of their gateway vehicles after a raid in the Southern Brazilian City of Aracatuba.

Police said that at least three people were killed among one suspect.

Officials said more than twenty people took part in the heist blocking off roads with burning vehicles and placing explosive devices across the city.

Large-scale bank robberies have become more frequent in recent years with hostages used as human shields.

  Initial reports had put the number of assailants at more than fifty but that number had  since been revised down to between fifteen  and twenty.