Brazil: police arrest skinheads accused of trying to kill gay man

A police statement said Eduardo Toniolo Del Segue, 25, and his wife, Edwiges Francis Barroso, 26, stabbed the man one month ago in Curitiba, some 350 kilometers (220 miles) southwest of Sao Paulo. The victim, who was treated and released shortly after the attack, only managed to identify his assailants on Wednesday.

The group of neo-Nazi skinheads allegedly led by Del Segue had been under investigation for more than a month for attacking Jews, blacks and homosexuals. Pro-Nazi books, flags and CDs were found in the couple's house, the statement said.

Another nine members of the group were also arrested and charged with conspiracy and racism for diffusing anti-black and anti-gay propaganda. The promotion of racist ideas is a crime in Brazil punishable by up to three years in prison, the AP reports.

Police are investigating possible links between the Curitiba group and skinhead groups in other southern Brazilian states - including Rio Grande do Sul, where three skinheads were arrested in May for allegedly punching, kicking and stabbing three Jewish students. A.M.