At least five hostages, including a child, have died as armed police battled robbers who had tried to raid two banks in north-east Brazil.
Six robbers also died when police engaged them in a gun battle in the city of Milagres.
The mayor of Milagres, in Ceara state, said the hostages were killed by their captors as police moved in.
Brazilian media reported that two suspected robbers were also arrested in the operation.
Four of the hostages, including the child, were all from the same family.
According to initial reports, police surprised the robbers in the early hours of the morning and engaged them in a shootout.
The gang then fled, grabbing the hostages on their way.
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