Media bus windows at Rio Olympics shattered by gunfire, passenger believes
More security concerns arise in Rio after bus incident
Security concerns continue at the Rio Olympics as a bus carrying media had windows shattered by what witnesses believe was gunfire, Reuters reported Tuesday. According to Brazilian paper O Globo (via USA Today), authorities believe the damage to the windows was from rocks.
The bus was traveling on a Rio highway between Olympic venues when the windows shattered
"We were shot at. I mean we could hear the report of the gun," said Sherryl "Lee" Michaelson, a retired U.S. air force captain who is working for a basketball publication in Rio.
Bus carrying journalists at #Rio2016 hit by gunfire, no one seriously hurt: witnesses https://t.co/8u3QZU0iU5pic.twitter.com/J7qPdkg7sP
— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) August 10, 2016
Michaelson, who is covering the Olympics for Hoopfeed.com, also spoke with Jeff Seidel of the Detroit Free Press and was adamant she heard gun shots. More details of her ordeal were shared through Hoopfeed's Twitter account:
5-A Reuters photog who has spent time in Iraq was yelling at the bus driver to keep moving, keep driving and don't stop or pull over.
— Hoopfeed.com (@hoopfeed) August 10, 2016
9-Pics of #Rio2016 media bus that was shot at this eve. 2 folks with minor injuries from cut glass. Story to come. pic.twitter.com/YIO6eTNqnS
— Hoopfeed.com (@hoopfeed) August 10, 2016
10 - Another image of the media bus that was targeted at #Rio2016 tonight. What kind of impact does that look like? pic.twitter.com/tu53PAkFQL
— Hoopfeed.com (@hoopfeed) August 10, 2016
This is just another security scare in a series of many that seem to keep piling up this week, and second that involved members of the media. A bullet struck the equestrian center near where journalists were working Saturday.
Crime has struck the Rio Games in other ways as well.
Two Australian rowing coaches were robbed at knife point, according to reports. So was Portugal's minister of education and even the Rio Games' chief of security was also reportedly mugged after the Opening Ceremony.
The Brazilian government has deployed a security force of 85,000 for the Olympic Games. That has not been enough to keep everyone safe, though.
















