Rio Security issues

Rio police tell tourists they won't be able to protect them

Violence is on the rise, and police officers are at loggerheads with the Rio state government after claiming they've not been paid for months.

The message from police to tourists is clear: We won't be able to protect you.

The state's police officers vented their anger Monday with a sign saying, "Welcome to Hell," outside Rio's main airport. "Police and firefighters don't get paid, whoever comes to Rio de Janeiro will not be safe," the sign said.

And it's not just those coming from abroad who may be in danger -- locals are losing patience, too.

Spanish Olympic sailing team members mugged at gunpoint in Rio

Beijing 2008 Olympic champion Fernando Echavarri, his Nacra 17 catamaran class partner and 2011 470 world champion Tara Pacheco and coach Santi Lopez-Vazquez were all mugged in Santa Teresa, an up-market neighbourhood popular with tourists to the west of Guanabara Bay on which the Marina is located.

They were confronted by five people armed with two pistols, according to a statement released by the Spanish Sailing Federation.

A bag with money, documents and a camera was reportedly taken.

None of the victims were injured in the incident.