Original Article 11 officers arrested in Rio massacre Michael Astor Associated Press Apr. 5, 2005 12:00 AM RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Authorities on Monday arrested 11 police officers suspected of participating in death-squad killings that left 30 people dead in two towns on Rio's poor outskirts. Four of the officers were charged with murder in Thursday night's shooting, while seven are being confined at the police barracks, Rio de Janeiro State Security Secretary Marcelo Itagiba said. Authorities believe the killings were a show of force by rogue police angered by the arrest of eight officers caught on film disposing of two bodies. Law officials said they are seeking a 12th suspect. The bloodiest massacre in years in a state known for its violence left many perplexed. Only two victims had criminal records and five were teenagers shot to death while playing video games at a bar. Authorities said the shootings began with the killing of 18 people at a bar in the poor town of Nova Iguacu. From there, the gunmen moved to the neighboring town of Queimados where 12 people were killed. On Sunday, Justice Minister Marcio Thomaz Bastos said the government was sending 400 to 600 agents from a special federal police force this week to help with investigations. The agents will be attached to a force targeting death squads, shadowy associations often made up of off-duty or retired officers hired by businessmen to kill undesirables. Authorities have likened the massacre to attacks by death squads, which 12 years ago stirred outrage when eight children were murdered.