At least 12 people including hostages have been killed in two attempted bank robberies in Brazil.
Military police said the attempted heists began around 2.30am on Friday in the downtown area of the city of Milagres.
The robbers at one bank had taken several people hostage when police surrounded the area.
A fight broke out, leaving several dead. Authorities have yet to identify the dead.
The mayor of Milagres told local media that two children, between 10 and 13 years old, were killed.
It is not immediately clear how the hostages were taken.
Latin America's largest nation routinely is the world leader in total annual homicides.
Ceara is one of the country's most violent states.
This story is being updated
