Brazil: Standoff ends, suspect surrenders, hostages freed at Rio de Janeiro's Rodoviaria Novo bus terminal on March 12 /update 1

The suspect in an earlier hostage situation at the Rodoviaria Novo Rio bus terminal in downtown Rio de Janeiro has surrendered, and hostages have been freed on March 12. The standoff ended a few hours after a man took 17 people hostage on a bus parked at the station. The bus had recently departed for Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais State. Reports indicate the bus returned to the station with a mechanical problem when the suspect brandished a firearm and began firing, hitting at least two people who were near the bus at the time, one of whom was seriously wounded by three gunshots fired by the hostage-taker. The motive behind the incident was not immediately clear. Officials had initially closed the station, cordoned off the area, and suspended bus services. However, it is unclear if services have resumed.

Lingering increased security and localized transport and business disruptions are likely over the coming hours as authorities investigate the incident.