Brazilian national Cássio Mussawer Montenegro opened fire Thursday at approximately 1.30 pm against Prima Felicia Benítez de Cantuni, a 78-year-old former judge who works as a legal advisor at the Brazilian Consulate in Ciudad del Este. During the attack at the diplomatic mission, the woman was shot in the left arm. Security personnel fired back. The perpetrator then tried to kill himself but failed. They are both hospitalized, the Alto Paraná Police Chief, Crio Feliciano Martínez, confirmed.
The Paraguayan enclave of Ciudad del Este, the capital of the department of Alto Paraná, on the border with Argentina and Brazil, has been declared under emergency due to a growing wave of insecurity. Mayor Miguel Prieto spoke of an unsustainable situation with many robberies that we only see in movies. The measure will be in force for 30 days but might be extended to deal with repeated criminal events.
Paraguay's President Mario Abdo Benítez has instructed the Anti-corruption Minister René Fernández to request the Prosecutor's Office to launch a probe into the stop in Ciudad del Este in May of the Venezuelan-flagged Boeing 747-300 aircraft with Iranian pilots currently held in Buenos Aires.
Brazil health authorities Thursday set up a huge awning about 50 meters from the International Friendship Bridge crossing into Paraguay to carry out quick COVID-19 tests. The campaign will span for two weeks and will not be mandatory.
Brazilian police on Friday arrested a Lebanese citizen on suspicions of raising funds for Lebanon-based Shiite military group Hezbollah, which the United States considers a terrorist group.
Argentine Secretary of Tourism said Enrique Meyer said that Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay are angry with Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow's latest project, a film focusing on a border region, shared by the three countries and thought to be a centre for smuggling and terror financing.