In Brazil, three people died as a result of a shooting at a rehearsal at a samba school, BBC News reported on Saturday, January 19.

The incident occurred in the city of Sao Geraldo in the state of Minas Gerais in the east of the country. Dancers were preparing for the February carnival in the city of San Joao del Rey when four unknown men on motorcycles opened fire on them. It is not specified where the shooting took place - indoors or outdoors. As a result, three people between 14 and 19 years old died.

Three shooters were detained by police. It is still unknown whether the samba school students were the target of the attackers or were random victims. According to police, the attack is related to the activities of local gangs.

Incidents with firearms are quite common in Brazil, notes BBC News. Attempts by the country's authorities to ban citizens from owning firearms have failed. In 2005, 64 percent of voters responded negatively to the question “Should the sale of guns and ammunition be banned in Brazil?” Protection from gangs was cited as one of the reasons why Brazilians would like to have weapons.

According to the law, every mentally normal Brazilian citizen over 25 years of age can own his own firearm for self-defense or hunting. Gun owners are required to pay a special tax on them every three years. In 2005 , it was reported that 17 million firearms were in the possession of citizens, nine million of which were unregistered. Currently, more than 190 million people live in Brazil.

Three Brazilians killed in samba school shooting