Fake bomb thrown at US consulate

Brazilian police arrested two men who allegedly threw a box into the US consulate in Rio de Janeiro, saying it was a bomb.

Tiago Bessa, 19, and Emerson dos Santos Varela, 20, were both charged with disturbing the peace, said Rio police officer Gilberto Ribeiro.

The pair allegedly approached the consulate carrying a box as if they were making a delivery.

When security guards opened the door, they threw the box which was full of shredded paper into the building and shouted that it was a bomb, police said.

‘‘To the Devil Bush’’ was written on the box.

Ribeiro called the action, ‘‘a joke in bad taste’’ and said the two men were being released pending a court appearance.

The two said they were upset over the US attacks on Afghanistan and seemed surprised that their prank had landed them in so much trouble, Ribeiro said.

The US consulate was closed for the Columbus Day holiday when the prank occurred.