Rio de Janeiro: A Russian diplomat reportedly tackled and killed a would-be robber near Rio's Olympic Park on Thursday morning local time.
The 60-year-old, named in some media reports as Marcos Cesar Feres Braga, was stuck in traffic at the Avenida das Americas in Barra da Tijuca, when a robber approached the car by motorbike.
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Rio 2016: Mugger killed trying to rob Russian diplomat
A mugger is dead after his gun went off when trying to rob the Russian vice-consul, just a few kilometres away from the athlete's village. Vision: courtesy Seven News Melbourne
In a statement to Fairfax Media, Rio Civil Police said the Homicide Squad confirmed the lawyer, who holds a vice-consul post in the Russian consulate, then wrestled with the assailant and, during the fight, the assailant's gun went off killing him.
The local Extra newspaper, however, reported the diplomat used his jiu-jitsu skills to grab the attacker, pull him into the car, take his gun and shoot him. An accomplice on a second motorcycle fled, Extra said.
The official Brazilian news agency Agencia Brasil, said the diplomat was in the car with his wife and daughter.
Traffic robberies are common in Brazil and motorists are advised to keep their windows closed and doors locked. They are advised to not react or resist.
It has been reported the attacker broke the car window to gain access.
The incident happened about midday as the diplomat was waiting for traffic to start moving again after access had been closed for the Olympic torch to pass on Avenida das Americas, an access road to the Barra Olympic precinct.
The news broke after the consulate closed for the day.
It comes as a string of bad news in Rio - including the kidnapping and robbery of New Zealand jiu-jitsu athlete Jason Lee last month, and the mugging at gun point of Australian Paralympian Liesl Tesch and Sarah Ross as they cycled in June - compete for global headlines with sports prowess during South America's first Olympic Games.
- with AAP