GPS guides Norwegian tourists into trouble in Rio

[Mark]

Three Norwegian tourists came under fire and one was shot after the satellite navigation system in their car guided them straight into one of Rio de Janeiro's most dangerous slums.

The three men cut short their vacation in Brazil and headed home Monday after Trygve Killingtveit, 24, was shot in the shoulder by suspected drug traffickers from one of the gangs that control hundreds of shantytowns in Rio.

The tourists were returning from the beach resort of Buzios about three hours north of Rio Saturday when they got lost, Brazil's Globo TV and several newspapers reported.

They reportedly told police their Global Positioning System (GPS) system recommended they turn off a main highway as the quickest route back to the airport to drop off the rental car. But the suggested route took them deep into the Mare slum complex, where their rented car quickly came under fire.

No motive for the attack was given, and no arrests were made. Killingtveit managed to drive the car to safety despite being wounded. He told family members in Norway that he probably went astray because of a fault in the GPS, Norwegian daily Dagbladet reported.

"As far as I understand, the GPS system in their car showed the wrong information," his brother, Magne Killingtveit, told the paper.

The Norwegian consulate in Rio declined Monday to comment on the incident, saying only that the three had returned to Norway.


Source: Reuters