RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian Defense Minister Raul Jungmann on Thursday condemned the violence that has marred carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, calling it "inadmissible and unacceptable."

Jungmann pledged to take additional steps to prevent the spate of assaults and robberies targeting carnival goers.

"We will take new measures. Don't ask me which, because we have yet to define them and the president has not signed anything yet," Jungmann told reporters.

His remarks followed a meeting with other top officials, including the secretary-general of the presidency, Moreira Franco, and Navy Commander Eduardo Bacellar, to review what can be done to stem the violence affecting Brazil's biggest tourist attraction.

The meeting was called after various media outlets covering Rio's carnival aired video footage of gangs rampaging through tourism hotspots, such as Ipanema and Copacabana, mugging revelers.

Three police officers have also been killed at carnival, which began over the weekend.