RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The bomb squad rushed past crowds on Copacabana Beach to investigate a backpack abandoned near Rio's ritziest hotel. Despite the potential for danger, local diners sipped their beers, watched an Olympic swimming race on a big-screen television and took selfies with a disposal robot amid what turned out to be a false alarm.
Meantime, a table of eight American tourists asked for the bill and scurried away.
Suspicious packages, muggings, stray bullets flying at venues, shattered windows on a bus and an Olympic security officer fatally shot in a favela. A smattering of incidents since the Olympics began has unnerved visitors to Rio de Janeiro even as some Brazilians say typically crime-ridden streets in touristy areas seem more secure.