The Military Police said that the group had planned to attack financial institutions over the All Souls holiday, ABC News reported.
It said the operation, conducted along with Federal Highway Police, led to the seizure of “a real arsenal of war.” including .50-caliber machine guns, rifles, explosives and bulletproof vests.
The agencies gave a few other details.
Large-scale bank heists have become more frequent in recent years in Brazil, with hostages sometimes used as human shields.
In August, bank robbers armed with explosives and high-powered rifles terrorized a city in Sao Paulo state, marching hostages down a street and strapping some to their cars as they made their escape.
In December, large gangs of bank robbers raided cities on two sides of the country, again seizing hostages and overwhelming police garrisons.
ZZ/PR
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