Nine people were trampled to death early on Sunday after two suspects firing guns and being chased by Brazilian police entered a party with roughly 5,000 people, according to a police statement.
The police officers were chasing two men riding a motorcycle when suspects fired guns against them in Paraisopolis, a poor neighborhood of Sao Paulo.
The suspects entered a party playing funk music, causing a stampede, the police said. Police spokesman Emerson Massera told journalists police used chemical weapons and rubber bullets after being attacked at the party. He said the police opened a probe to check if the officer's actions were appropriate. Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria said there will be an investigation to clarify what happened. The police spokesman said 38 police officers and 14 police cars were used in the operation.
Another seven people were injured and taken to the hospital.
The statement said police were chasing the men because they were disturbing the neighborhood.
No suspect has been arrested yet.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
