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Brazil police serve warrants in case of slain councilwoman

December 13, 2018 GMT

FILE - In this March 20, 2018 file photo, people hold hands in front of a banner with a question that reads in Portuguese "Who killed Marielle and Anderson?" during a protest demanding justice for their deaths, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazilian police served on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, several arrest, search and seizure warrants in connection with the murder of the councilwoman and her driver nine months ago. (AP Photo/Leo Correa, File)

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Police have served several arrest, search and seizure warrants in connection with the killing of a Rio de Janeiro city councilwoman nine months ago, authorities said Thursday.

Marielle Franco and her driver, Anderson Pedro Gomes, were shot to death March 14 while returning from an event focused on empowering young black women.

The police department’s statement said it could not provide further details on the warrants because the case is under seal.

Public Security Minister Raul Jungmann told reporters last April that the killings were “very probably the work of Rio de Janeiro’s militias.”

He was referring to armed groups who vie with criminal gangs for control of Rio’s poor communities and have been accused of summary executions.