A man is holding dozens of people hostage on a bus in Brazil, and is threatening to set the vehicle on fire, according to local police.
Negotiations are underway with the man, who is armed, the Federal Highway Police said in Rio de Janeiro.
At least six hostages have been released so far, but the man has poured petrol on the bus, and is threatening to set it alight.
The incident began on the busy bridge linking central Rio with the suburb of Sao Goncalo at about 5.30am local time.
Officers said the man has identified himself as a policeman, although this has not been confirmed.
1/50 19 August 2019
Protesters take to the street to face off with Indonesian police in Manokwari, Papua. The riots broke out, with a local parliament building being torched, as thousands protested allegations that police tear-gassed and arrested students who supported the restive region’s independence.
AFP/Getty
2/50 18 August 2019
People survey the destruction after an overnight suicide bomb explosion that targeted a wedding reception in Kabul, Afghanistan. At least 63 people, mostly wedding guests from the Shi’ite Muslim community, were killed and more than 180 injured when a suicide bomber attacked a wedding hall.
EPA
3/50 17 August 2019
A man retrieves his prize after climbing up a greased pole during a competition held as part of Independence Day celebrations at Ancol Beach in Jakarta. Indonesia is celebrating its 74th anniversary of independence from the Dutch colonial rule.
AP
4/50 16 August 2019
Swiss pianist and composer Alain Roche plays piano suspended in the air at dawn during the 20th “Jeux du Castrum”, a multidisciplinary festival in Switzerland.
AFP/Getty
5/50 15 August 2019
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako bow during a memorial service ceremony marking the 74th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War Two, in Tokyo, Japan.
Reuters
6/50 14 August 2019
A woman walks with a Kashmir’s flag to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir, during a ceremony to celebrate Pakistan’s 72nd Independence Day at the Mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi, Pakistan.
Reuters
7/50 13 August 2019
The extraordinary moment a volcano erupted, shooting luminous hot lava from the surface, as a lightning bolt striked the centre of the mountain. Photographer Martin Reitze, 55, captured rare images of volcanic ash escaping from the Ebeko volcano in Russia whilst the lightning froze the ash cloud in time. Martin, from Munich, was standing around a kilometre away from the northern crater of the volcano when it erupted. The volcano expert said: “The strong lightning which shows in the image is a very rare exception, as it was much stronger than usual.”
Martin Reitze/SWNS
8/50 12 August 2019
People swim in a public bath pool in Zalakaros, Hungary. Some regions of the country have been issued the highest grade of warning by the National Meteorological Service as the temperatures may reach 33-38 centigrade.
EPA
9/50 11 August 2019
A pro-democracy protester is held by police outside Tsim Sha Tsui Police station during a demonstration against the controversial extradition bill in Hong Kong.
AFP/Getty
10/50 10 August 2019
Muslim pilgrims make their way down on a rocky hill known as Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual hajj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
AP
11/50 9 August 2019
Waves hit a sea wall in front of buildings in Taizhou, China’s eastern Zhejiang province. China issued a red alert for incoming Super Typhoon Lekima which is expected to batter eastern Zhejiang province early on August 10 with high winds and torrential rainfall.
AFP/Getty
12/50 8 August 2019
A herder struggles with his flock across a motorway at the city cattle market, ahead of the Eid al-Adha in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Eid al-Adha is the holiest of the two Muslims holidays celebrated each year, it marks the yearly Muslim pilgrimage (Hajj) to visit Mecca, the holiest place in Islam. Muslims slaughter a sacrificial animal and split the meat into three parts, one for the family, one for friends and relatives, and one for the poor and needy.
EPA
13/50 7 August 2019
Kazakh servicemen perform during a ceremony opening the International Army Games at the 40th military base Otar in Zhambyl Region, Kazakhstan.
Reuters
14/50 6 August 2019
Paleontologist Naturalis Anne Schulp takes part in the construction of the skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus Rex called Trix in Naturalis in Leiden, The Netherlands. After a month-long tour of Europe, Trix is home in time for the opening of the new museum.
AFP/Getty
15/50 5 August 2019
Flowers paying tribute to the eight-year-old boy who died after he was pushed under a train at Frankfurt am Main’s station. The horrific crime happened last week and has led politicians to call for heightened security.
AFP/Getty
16/50 4 August 2019
Mourners take part in a vigil near the border fence between Mexico and the US after a mass shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso killed 20 people. The suspected gunman behind shooting is believed to be a 21-year-old white man called Patrick Crusius.
Reuters
17/50 3 August 2019
Pramac Racing’s rider Jack Miller in action during a practice session at the Motorcycling Grand Prix of the Czech Republic. The race will take place on 4 August.
EPA
18/50 2 August 2019
An extremely rare Pink Meanie jellyfish on display at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town. The Pink Meanie was discovered during a nightlight jellyfish dive by the collections team in the waters around Robben Island and in Cape Town Harbour. Pink Meanies are jellyvorous, meaning they feed on other jelly species by reeling them in with their long tentacles. Discovering the Pink Meanie in its early ephyra stage meant the team could study its growth rate which turned out to be very quick as it grew to the metaephyra stage in about a week and a half. The Mexican pink meanie (Drymonema larsoni) was only discovered in the year 2000. A Mediterranean relative, known as the Big Pink Jellyfish (Drymonema dalmatinum) has been known to science since the 1800s but when spotted in 2014 it had been almost 70 years since the last sighting. These jellies are incredibly rare and this new South African species is no exception.
EPA
19/50 1 August 2019
Palestinian men breathe fire on the beach as entertainment for children during the summer vacation in Gaza City.
AFP/Getty
20/50 31 July 2019
A woman rows a boat through the lotus plants on the waters of Dal Lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir. The lake is a popular tourist destination because of its floating gardens and lotus flowers.
EPA
21/50 30 July 2019
An effigy of demon Ghantakarna is burnt to symbolize the destruction of evil and belief to drive evil spirits and ghost, during the Ghantakarna festival at the ancient city of Bhaktapur, Nepal.
Reuters
22/50 29 July 2019
Hundreds of hot air balloons take part in the Great Line at the Mondial Air Ballons festival, in an attempt to break the 2017 record of 456 balloons aligning in an hour during the biggest meeting in the world, in Chambley, France.
Reuters
23/50 28 July 2019
Anti-extradition bill protesters with umbrellas attend a rally against the police brutality in Hong Kong.
EPA
24/50 27 July 2019
A general view of stalls closed following yesterday’s volcanic eruption at the tourism area of Mount Tangkuban Parahu in the north of Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia.
Reuters
25/50 26 July 2019
Protesters rally against a controversial extradition bill in the arrivals hall at the international airport in Hong Kong.
AFP/Getty
26/50 25 July 2019
The pack rides in a valley during the eighteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Embrun and Valloire.
AFP/Getty
27/50 24 July 2019
Former special counsel Robert Mueller is sworn in to testify before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the investigation into Russian Interference of the 2016 Presidential Election.
Reuters
28/50 23 July 2019
People cool down at the fountains of Trocadero during a heatwave in Paris.
EPA
29/50 22 July 2019
Activists burn an effigy of President Rodrigo Duterte, depicted as a sea monster, during a protest near congress. This is to coincide with his state of the nation address in Manila.
AFP/Getty
30/50 21 July 2019
Protesters run from tear gas, fired by police, after a march against a controversial extradition bill in Hong Kong. The masked protesters covered the walls of China’s office in Hong Kong with eggs and graffiti following another massive rally.
AFP/Getty
31/50 20 July 2019
Fans line the streets of Algiers to see the national Algerian football team take part in an open-top bus parade following their victory in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. They were celebrating their second Cup of Nations win, 29 years after their first triumph in 1990.
AFP/Getty
32/50 19 July 2019
The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission is celebrated in a 17-minute show, “Apollo 50: Go for the Moon” which combined full-motion projection-mapping artwork on the Washington Monument and archival footage to recreate the launch of Apollo 11.
Nasa/AP
33/50 18 July 2019
A pupil from Northlen Primary school sticks a poster of former president Nelson Mandela on a chalkboard, as they mark his birthday in Durban. July 18, marks 101 years since the birth of Mandela in 1918.
AFP/Getty
34/50 17 July 2019
Firefighters rush to the scene to put out a fire that spread to parked cars in Jerusalem, following an extreme heat wave.
AFP/Getty Images
35/50 16 July 2019
Rescuers work at the site of collapsed building in Dongri area of Mumbai, India.
EPA
36/50 15 July 2019
A motorist drives past a destroyed house after a large earthquake that hit Surigao City, in the southern island of Mindanao, Philippines.
AFP/Getty Images
37/50 14 July 2019
French Gendarmes remove fences next to a burning portable toilet during clashes with protesters on the Champs Elysees avenue after the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris, France.
Reuters
38/50 13 July 2019
A recortador jumps over a bull during a contest in a bullring at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, Spain.
Reuters
39/50 12 July 2019
Japan’s Megumu Yoshida and Yukiko Inui compete in the duet technical artistic swimming event during the 2019 World Championships at Yeomju Gymnasium in Gwangju.
AFP/Getty
40/50 11 July 2019
Hot air balloons fly over the city of Igualada during an early flight as part of the European Balloon Festival in Igualada, Spain. The European Balloon Festival has become the most important hot air balloon event in Spain and one of the biggest in Europe.
Getty
41/50 10 July 2019
USA’s players take part in their champions parade through New York after winning the Women’s World Cup at the weekend in France.
Reuters
42/50 9 July 2019
The pack rides during the fourth stage of the Tour de France cycling race in Nancy, France.
AP
43/50 8 July 2019
Temple Priest Siva Sri Arumugam Paskarakurukkal and Hindu devotees celebrate the Makorcavam temple festival at Germany’s largest Hindu temple in Hamm, Germany.
EPA
44/50 7 July 2019
Megan Rapinoe lifts the Women’s World Cup following USA’s victory over The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon in the final held in France.
Getty
45/50 6 July 2019
Manneken Pis is dressed in the overall leader’s yellow jersey, before the start of the Tour de France Stage 1.
Reuters
46/50 5 July 2019
Sudanese protesters celebrate in the streets of Khartoum after ruling generals and protest leaders announced they have reached an agreement on the disputed issue of a new governing body.
AFP/Getty Images
47/50 4 July 2019
Demonstrators burn a national flag in front of the White House during a Fourth of July protest.
Reuters
48/50 3 July 2019
Smoke billows and flames propagate across the hillside near houses after the Stromboli volcano erupted in the north of Sicily. It killed a hiker and sent tourists fleeing into the sea.
AFP/Getty
49/50 2 July 2019
An orangutan looks out of its cage in the controversial Pata Zoo in Thailand. Located at the top of a department store, the zoo has been controversial for keeping animals in tiny, concrete cages.
EPA
50/50 1 July 2019
A protester breaks in to the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong during a protest on the 22nd anniversary of the territory’s handover to China from Britain.
Reuters
1/50 19 August 2019
Protesters take to the street to face off with Indonesian police in Manokwari, Papua. The riots broke out, with a local parliament building being torched, as thousands protested allegations that police tear-gassed and arrested students who supported the restive region’s independence.
AFP/Getty
2/50 18 August 2019
People survey the destruction after an overnight suicide bomb explosion that targeted a wedding reception in Kabul, Afghanistan. At least 63 people, mostly wedding guests from the Shi’ite Muslim community, were killed and more than 180 injured when a suicide bomber attacked a wedding hall.
EPA
3/50 17 August 2019
A man retrieves his prize after climbing up a greased pole during a competition held as part of Independence Day celebrations at Ancol Beach in Jakarta. Indonesia is celebrating its 74th anniversary of independence from the Dutch colonial rule.
AP
4/50 16 August 2019
Swiss pianist and composer Alain Roche plays piano suspended in the air at dawn during the 20th “Jeux du Castrum”, a multidisciplinary festival in Switzerland.
AFP/Getty
5/50 15 August 2019
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako bow during a memorial service ceremony marking the 74th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War Two, in Tokyo, Japan.
Reuters
6/50 14 August 2019
A woman walks with a Kashmir’s flag to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir, during a ceremony to celebrate Pakistan’s 72nd Independence Day at the Mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi, Pakistan.
Reuters
7/50 13 August 2019
The extraordinary moment a volcano erupted, shooting luminous hot lava from the surface, as a lightning bolt striked the centre of the mountain. Photographer Martin Reitze, 55, captured rare images of volcanic ash escaping from the Ebeko volcano in Russia whilst the lightning froze the ash cloud in time. Martin, from Munich, was standing around a kilometre away from the northern crater of the volcano when it erupted. The volcano expert said: “The strong lightning which shows in the image is a very rare exception, as it was much stronger than usual.”
Martin Reitze/SWNS
8/50 12 August 2019
People swim in a public bath pool in Zalakaros, Hungary. Some regions of the country have been issued the highest grade of warning by the National Meteorological Service as the temperatures may reach 33-38 centigrade.
EPA
9/50 11 August 2019
A pro-democracy protester is held by police outside Tsim Sha Tsui Police station during a demonstration against the controversial extradition bill in Hong Kong.
AFP/Getty
10/50 10 August 2019
Muslim pilgrims make their way down on a rocky hill known as Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual hajj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
AP
11/50 9 August 2019
Waves hit a sea wall in front of buildings in Taizhou, China’s eastern Zhejiang province. China issued a red alert for incoming Super Typhoon Lekima which is expected to batter eastern Zhejiang province early on August 10 with high winds and torrential rainfall.
AFP/Getty
12/50 8 August 2019
A herder struggles with his flock across a motorway at the city cattle market, ahead of the Eid al-Adha in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Eid al-Adha is the holiest of the two Muslims holidays celebrated each year, it marks the yearly Muslim pilgrimage (Hajj) to visit Mecca, the holiest place in Islam. Muslims slaughter a sacrificial animal and split the meat into three parts, one for the family, one for friends and relatives, and one for the poor and needy.
EPA
13/50 7 August 2019
Kazakh servicemen perform during a ceremony opening the International Army Games at the 40th military base Otar in Zhambyl Region, Kazakhstan.
Reuters
14/50 6 August 2019
Paleontologist Naturalis Anne Schulp takes part in the construction of the skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus Rex called Trix in Naturalis in Leiden, The Netherlands. After a month-long tour of Europe, Trix is home in time for the opening of the new museum.
AFP/Getty
15/50 5 August 2019
Flowers paying tribute to the eight-year-old boy who died after he was pushed under a train at Frankfurt am Main’s station. The horrific crime happened last week and has led politicians to call for heightened security.
AFP/Getty
16/50 4 August 2019
Mourners take part in a vigil near the border fence between Mexico and the US after a mass shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso killed 20 people. The suspected gunman behind shooting is believed to be a 21-year-old white man called Patrick Crusius.
Reuters
17/50 3 August 2019
Pramac Racing’s rider Jack Miller in action during a practice session at the Motorcycling Grand Prix of the Czech Republic. The race will take place on 4 August.
EPA
18/50 2 August 2019
An extremely rare Pink Meanie jellyfish on display at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town. The Pink Meanie was discovered during a nightlight jellyfish dive by the collections team in the waters around Robben Island and in Cape Town Harbour. Pink Meanies are jellyvorous, meaning they feed on other jelly species by reeling them in with their long tentacles. Discovering the Pink Meanie in its early ephyra stage meant the team could study its growth rate which turned out to be very quick as it grew to the metaephyra stage in about a week and a half. The Mexican pink meanie (Drymonema larsoni) was only discovered in the year 2000. A Mediterranean relative, known as the Big Pink Jellyfish (Drymonema dalmatinum) has been known to science since the 1800s but when spotted in 2014 it had been almost 70 years since the last sighting. These jellies are incredibly rare and this new South African species is no exception.
EPA
19/50 1 August 2019
Palestinian men breathe fire on the beach as entertainment for children during the summer vacation in Gaza City.
AFP/Getty
20/50 31 July 2019
A woman rows a boat through the lotus plants on the waters of Dal Lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir. The lake is a popular tourist destination because of its floating gardens and lotus flowers.
EPA
21/50 30 July 2019
An effigy of demon Ghantakarna is burnt to symbolize the destruction of evil and belief to drive evil spirits and ghost, during the Ghantakarna festival at the ancient city of Bhaktapur, Nepal.
Reuters
22/50 29 July 2019
Hundreds of hot air balloons take part in the Great Line at the Mondial Air Ballons festival, in an attempt to break the 2017 record of 456 balloons aligning in an hour during the biggest meeting in the world, in Chambley, France.
Reuters
23/50 28 July 2019
Anti-extradition bill protesters with umbrellas attend a rally against the police brutality in Hong Kong.
EPA
24/50 27 July 2019
A general view of stalls closed following yesterday’s volcanic eruption at the tourism area of Mount Tangkuban Parahu in the north of Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia.
Reuters
25/50 26 July 2019
Protesters rally against a controversial extradition bill in the arrivals hall at the international airport in Hong Kong.
AFP/Getty
26/50 25 July 2019
The pack rides in a valley during the eighteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Embrun and Valloire.
AFP/Getty
27/50 24 July 2019
Former special counsel Robert Mueller is sworn in to testify before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the investigation into Russian Interference of the 2016 Presidential Election.
Reuters
28/50 23 July 2019
People cool down at the fountains of Trocadero during a heatwave in Paris.
EPA
29/50 22 July 2019
Activists burn an effigy of President Rodrigo Duterte, depicted as a sea monster, during a protest near congress. This is to coincide with his state of the nation address in Manila.
AFP/Getty
30/50 21 July 2019
Protesters run from tear gas, fired by police, after a march against a controversial extradition bill in Hong Kong. The masked protesters covered the walls of China’s office in Hong Kong with eggs and graffiti following another massive rally.
AFP/Getty
31/50 20 July 2019
Fans line the streets of Algiers to see the national Algerian football team take part in an open-top bus parade following their victory in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. They were celebrating their second Cup of Nations win, 29 years after their first triumph in 1990.
AFP/Getty
32/50 19 July 2019
The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission is celebrated in a 17-minute show, “Apollo 50: Go for the Moon” which combined full-motion projection-mapping artwork on the Washington Monument and archival footage to recreate the launch of Apollo 11.
Nasa/AP
33/50 18 July 2019
A pupil from Northlen Primary school sticks a poster of former president Nelson Mandela on a chalkboard, as they mark his birthday in Durban. July 18, marks 101 years since the birth of Mandela in 1918.
AFP/Getty
34/50 17 July 2019
Firefighters rush to the scene to put out a fire that spread to parked cars in Jerusalem, following an extreme heat wave.
AFP/Getty Images
35/50 16 July 2019
Rescuers work at the site of collapsed building in Dongri area of Mumbai, India.
EPA
36/50 15 July 2019
A motorist drives past a destroyed house after a large earthquake that hit Surigao City, in the southern island of Mindanao, Philippines.
AFP/Getty Images
37/50 14 July 2019
French Gendarmes remove fences next to a burning portable toilet during clashes with protesters on the Champs Elysees avenue after the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris, France.
Reuters
38/50 13 July 2019
A recortador jumps over a bull during a contest in a bullring at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, Spain.
Reuters
39/50 12 July 2019
Japan’s Megumu Yoshida and Yukiko Inui compete in the duet technical artistic swimming event during the 2019 World Championships at Yeomju Gymnasium in Gwangju.
AFP/Getty
40/50 11 July 2019
Hot air balloons fly over the city of Igualada during an early flight as part of the European Balloon Festival in Igualada, Spain. The European Balloon Festival has become the most important hot air balloon event in Spain and one of the biggest in Europe.
Getty
41/50 10 July 2019
USA’s players take part in their champions parade through New York after winning the Women’s World Cup at the weekend in France.
Reuters
42/50 9 July 2019
The pack rides during the fourth stage of the Tour de France cycling race in Nancy, France.
AP
43/50 8 July 2019
Temple Priest Siva Sri Arumugam Paskarakurukkal and Hindu devotees celebrate the Makorcavam temple festival at Germany’s largest Hindu temple in Hamm, Germany.
EPA
44/50 7 July 2019
Megan Rapinoe lifts the Women’s World Cup following USA’s victory over The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon in the final held in France.
Getty
45/50 6 July 2019
Manneken Pis is dressed in the overall leader’s yellow jersey, before the start of the Tour de France Stage 1.
Reuters
46/50 5 July 2019
Sudanese protesters celebrate in the streets of Khartoum after ruling generals and protest leaders announced they have reached an agreement on the disputed issue of a new governing body.
AFP/Getty Images
47/50 4 July 2019
Demonstrators burn a national flag in front of the White House during a Fourth of July protest.
Reuters
48/50 3 July 2019
Smoke billows and flames propagate across the hillside near houses after the Stromboli volcano erupted in the north of Sicily. It killed a hiker and sent tourists fleeing into the sea.
AFP/Getty
49/50 2 July 2019
An orangutan looks out of its cage in the controversial Pata Zoo in Thailand. Located at the top of a department store, the zoo has been controversial for keeping animals in tiny, concrete cages.
EPA
50/50 1 July 2019
A protester breaks in to the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong during a protest on the 22nd anniversary of the territory’s handover to China from Britain.
Reuters
Authorities said the man had not made any particular demands and appeared to have “psychological problems”.
Rio’s elite police force known as BOPE is in charge of the negotiations. A sniper has been placed nearby.
Traffic has been blocked in both directions on the bridge, with hundreds of vehicles waiting in line.
Sao Goncalo is a violent, impoverished suburb separated from Rio by Guanabara Bay.
Some 37 people were thought to be trapped.
Additional reporting by agencies
