Bullet hits Rio press centre
Security at the Olympic equestrian venue has been questioned after Saturday’s incident,
which involved a police blimp carrying surveillance equipment
HE security of athletes and media at the Olympic equestrian venue in Deodoro, Rio de Janeiro, was called into question after a bullet pierced the white tent roof of the press centre and landed on the floor, writes Alice Collins.
The media centre at Deodoro is a large, temporary structure made of heavy-duty white plastic. The hole made by the bullet could be seen in the ceiling, with a ray of sunshine shining through it and onto the fabric of the wall.
There were more than 100 journalists working when the bullet hit the floor at lunchtime on Saturday, the first day of the eventing competition. No one was hurt.
It fell within feet of photographer Jon Stroud, as well as H&H’s journalists Alice Collins and Pippa Roome, plus photo journalist Peter Nixon.
The bullet was quickly picked up by a member of the venue’s photo team and taken away for analysis.
Rio 2016 communications director Mario Andrada said: “The ministry of defence has confirmed the bullet was aiming at the police blimp overhead, which carries surveillance equipment. Their findings were that the bullet arrived with low energy and speed, on a parabolic trajectory.”
Mr Andrada said the bullet had most likely come from a “favela” (slum) and had been aimed at the blimp because of its cameras and recording equipment.
“Security forces are using police blimps — which are bullet-proof — and drones, which carry cameras, as part of the technology for the protection and security of the Games. They can monitor and record crowd movements as well as what people are doing in their communities,” he added.
The Deodoro venue sits on a military base — similar to garrison towns in the UK.
Organisers were unable to say whether any live fire exercises had taken place on the day of the incident.
The copper-coloured bullet was identified locally as a 5.56mm assault rifle round.
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