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The top 5 murder capitals of the world
Congratulations to the remaining residents of Caracas, Venezuela! Foreign Policy has just honored your fair city as the murder capital of the world, with around 130 murders per 100,000 people.
Not only that, the actual murder rate may be much higher, because the numbers "omit prison-related murders as well as deaths that the state never gets around to properly 'categorizing.' The numbers also don't count those who died while 'resisting arrest,' suggesting that Caracas's cops-already known for their brutality against student protesters-might be cooking the books."
Also showing up on the list are Cape Town, New Orleans, Moscow, and, surprisingly, Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, which was recently named "Worst City" in an Economist Intelligence Unit survey.
Although Cape Town is rapidly emerging as one of Africa's most appealing cities, the city's homicide rate is still off the charts, at 62 per 100,000 people. But here's something to comfort you before your next visit: "The city's homicides usually take place in suburban townships rather than in the more upscale urban areas where tourists visit."
The article adds: "According to the South African Police Service, most of the Cape Town area's violent crimes happen between people who know one another, including a horrific case last year in which four males doused a female friend in gasoline and lit her on fire."
Sweet dreams!
Filed under: South Africa, Venezuela, News
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
richard Oct 1st 2008 1:39PM
With friends like that, who needs enemies?
Kat Oct 3rd 2008 9:20AM
Whadda 'bout OLANDO, FL?????? Not always the "happy happy joy joy" land of the mouse. They hide a lot of the murder press. Live there and you will install triple DEAD locks on your doors
Willy Oct 2nd 2008 2:33PM
When I visited Cape Town, I felt extremely safe -- even walking at night. Admittedly, I stuck to well-lit, popular places.
LOL Oct 2nd 2008 3:10PM
Oh gee...Venezuela. What a shocking surprise! *note sarcasm*
JOhn Oct 2nd 2008 3:58PM
I lived in Caracas from 2000-2001 and it is a relatively same city in spite of the numbers. What the statistics don't tell you is that the majority of murders take place in the barrios. I realize that a murder is a murder, but it is not like living in the wild west.
Dan V. Oct 2nd 2008 4:07PM
We lived in Venezuela back in the 1980's, Barquisimeto to be exact.
It was at that time, a great place to live with excellent housing, night life, great people, public transport, the whole nine yards.
Then came Chavez and his Fidelistas.
Ain't it great what communism will do for a country??
Laura Oct 2nd 2008 3:13PM
If the murder rate in Cape Town is that GOOD, can you imagine what it was under apartheid? My gosh, it's amazing anyone survived!
Don Oct 3rd 2008 9:30AM
Black on black on crime, is it really a crime?
cannotbelievethis Oct 3rd 2008 9:34AM
Do you know what apartheid is/ was... people just disappeared there was no black on black crime, or maybe you could explain that to Steve Biko's widow...
Handy that NOW Cape Town starts wanting to count murders... since apartheid is officially "over". I don't think it will ever be over....
John Oct 3rd 2008 9:56AM
I worked in Jo'berg for a while and according to my driver it became far more dangerous after the end of apartheid than before. His comment to me one day was "Before you knew who had the guns, now you don't". I'd say from that that the murder rate was less during apartheid.
cannotbelievethis Oct 3rd 2008 12:51PM
You might have a point, John, the closest I ever came to Cape Town was Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)... 'course back then (under apartheid) you just disappeared... they found you when they noticed the vultures...
Jim Oct 3rd 2008 9:29AM
Try Philadelphia, or should I say "Killadelphia"
Graydon902 Oct 2nd 2008 5:06PM
I'm surprised Cabot Cove, Maine isn't among them--what with all those murders that Jessica Fletcher had to solve!
leb Oct 3rd 2008 12:04PM
Cabot Cove is a fictional town! LOL
Scaramazoola mitzificula bibbidy bobbidy boo Oct 3rd 2008 2:05PM
Duh!
Wannakno Oct 2nd 2008 5:25PM
Would like to see just the US top 5. New Orleans would be one and Chicago would definately be in the top 5 if not second. Both cities run my Democrats, Chicago for decades.
jack looney Oct 2nd 2008 7:52PM
I'm 78 years old, grew up in New Orleans, but have lived in California for the past 20 yrs. New Orleans was a wonderful, safe and beautiful city to live during the 30's through to the 70's. That's when things started to change. Murders were increasing. Law abiding citizens thought it was necassary to buy a gun for their protection. It seems that whoever you talked to had a gun. Things just got worse. Guns were getting stolen, lost and too many guns were in circulation and ending up in the wrong hands. Even my wife's gun was stolen from her car. I have often wondered just how many people that one gun may have killed.
Mike Oct 3rd 2008 8:09AM
Jacksonville Fl, Will be on that list as well. Jacksonvilee has has the highest murder rate for 06 and 07!
TERRY Oct 3rd 2008 1:03PM
WELL THAT IS WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU PUT THAT MANY BLACK PEOPLE IN ONE AREA! LOOK AT BOTH THE CITIES DEMOGRAPHICS--WHAT DO YOU GET! ALL THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE IS TO GET WHAT WHITE PEOPLE THAT LIVE OUT AND THEN PUT UP A HUGE FENCE AROUND THE ENTIRE CITY! MAKE IT ONE BIG PRISON! HELL, MOST OF THEM WILL WIND UP THERE ANYWAY!
bob wong Oct 2nd 2008 5:26PM
Isn't Hugo Chavez great. I hope he is not one of the statistics.