Russia denies 'diplomat' killed Rio mugger

Russia has denied reports that one of its diplomats killed an armed mugger near the Olympic Park and athletes' village in Rio de Janeiro a day before the Games officially begin.

Reports said a man named Marcos Cesar Feres Braga, described by local police as a Brazilian lawyer who works at the Russian consulate, was waiting in traffic when the carjacker struck. He reportedly grabbed his attacker's gun and shot him dead at point-blank range. Brazilian news site Extra says Braga, a martial arts expert, first used jiu-jitsu to restrain his assailant.

Rio's military police said the lawyer had "acted quickly, pulling the criminal inside the car, took his revolver and fired it towards him", reports The Sun.

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However, Russia's embassy in Brasilia moved to deny any connection with Braga, saying: "No representative of the Russian consulate general in Rio de Janeiro was involved in an attempted assault ending with the death of the suspect."

Consul general Vladimir Tokmakov told the Tass news agency the shooter could have been posing as a diplomat. "The man who was involved in the incident could have presented himself as a general consulate employee," he said.

Violence has marred the lead-up to Rio 2016, says CNN, "with many concerned that Rio isn't safe or prepared enough to host the world's biggest sports event".