Urban violence

Honduras: Tourist Killed for a Camera in San Pedro Sula

Date: January 23rd, 2013 |

A British tourist was shot and killed for his camera while walking around San Pedro Sula on Jan. 15. The 33-year-old man, who was nearing the end of a month-long trip, was mugged on a residential street and then murdered when he struggled with his armed assailants over the camera and his small bag of [read more]

Brazil: Murder Rate Skyrockets in Sao Paulo Gang Wars

Date: December 12th, 2012 |

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An escalating street war between drug gangs and police has sent a wave of violent crime through Sao Paulo this year, grabbing international headlines and terrifying local residents. More than 300 murders have been reported in the city just since October—and 140 of those occurred within a two-week period. Much of the violence has been [read more]

Panama: Land Sale Law Repealed Following Colon Riots

Date: October 31st, 2012 |

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The National Assembly has repealed the unpopular land-sale law that prompted more than a week of violent protests in Colon and Panama City. The law, which passed Oct. 19, would have allowed the sale of state-owned land in the Colon Free Zone, Latin America’s largest free trade zone. After escalating riots left three people dead, [read more]

India: Two Dead After Mumbai Protest Turns Violent

Date: August 15th, 2012 |

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A protest-turned-riot near Mumbai’s largest transit hub, Chhatrapati Shivaji train station, left two dead and effectively brought the city to a standstill Aug. 11. Thousands converged in the country’s financial center to protest anti-Muslim violence in the state of Assam, which erupted in July. Police used tear gas and fired shots in an attempt to [read more]

Poland and Ukraine: Soccer Rivalry Turns Violent at Euro 2012

Date: June 13th, 2012 |

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A longstanding rivalry between Russian and Polish soccer fans turned violent—not for the first time—during the Euro 2012 Soccer Tournament. Dozens of men were seen kicking and beating each other and throwing stones outside the stadium prior to the June 12 match in Warsaw, and at least 10 people were injured. Using water cannons and [read more]

Egypt: Political Unrest Keeping Tourists Away

Date: December 26th, 2012 |

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As voting day approached last week for a new constitution, protestors clashed with security forces in the port city of Alexandria, throwing rocks and setting two buses alight. Waves of protests have been sweeping the nation since November, when President Morsi made several unpopular decrees, and despite attempts to lure tourists back after the revolution, [read more]

Honduras: Surge in Violent Crime Prompts Travel Warning

Date: November 28th, 2012 |

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Due to widespread violent crime reaching epidemic levels, the U.S. Dept. of State has issued an updated travel warning. Honduras now has the highest murder rate in the world, and San Pedro Sula, a longtime transit hub for travelers heading to the Copan Mayan ruins and the resort island of Roatan, has been rated the [read more]

Mexico: All Airport Police Replaced After Drug Shootout

Date: August 21st, 2012 |

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To reassure the public and avoid further scandal, Mexico City has replaced all 348 airport police after a deadly shootout occurred inside Benito Juarez airport June 25. The incident involved three officers suspected of drug trafficking who opened fire on their colleagues and were then shot dead inside a busy terminal, shocking travelers who have [read more]

United Kingdom: Gang Fight Ends in Fatal Stabbing Near Olympic Park

Date: July 2nd, 2012 |

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A local man was stabbed to death in a gang fight just yards from the Olympic Park, in London’s busy Westfield Stratford shopping mall. Concerned shoppers alerted police to the brawl, which occurred in the late afternoon on the ground floor of the retail complex. Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene and hospitalized [read more]

China: Foreigner’s Death Spurs Better Security in Chongqing

Date: April 25th, 2012 |

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Chongqing municipal police have vowed to better protect foreigners after the recent death—believed to be a homicide—of a British national. Officials claim that outside of the recent scandal, there have been no cases of violent crimes against foreigners in Chongqing since 2010. The megacity is a hub of business, academics and tourism, and is plagued [read more]

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