Rio de Janeiro, Dec 8 (TIWN / IANS) At least 12 people have died following a shootout between a group of alleged bank robbers and the police in Brazil, officials said.

The shooting happened on Friday in the city of Milagres, in state of Ceara, when a group of 30 armed people attempted to rob two banks using hostages, but were intercepted by the police, Xinhua news agency reported.

Lielson Landim, Mayor of Milagres, said that before arriving in the city's centre to commit the bank robbery, the assailants stole a truck to block one of the city's main streets.

Upon being discovered by police, a fierce gun fight broke out and lasted 20 minutes. At least three minors, who were being held as hostages along with their parents, died.

Several of the bank robbers managed to escape and police began an operation to capture them.

At least six of the dead were the robbers and the rest were hostages, Landim said.