Protesters demonstrating in support of teachers
receiving better pay in the Brazilian cities of Rio
de Janeiro and Sao Paulo have clashed with police.
The centre of Rio was packed with more than 10,000
people marching peacefully.
But as it got dark, some protesters threw firebombs at
public buildings and riot police responded with tear
gas.
A similar protest in Sao Paulo also ended in violent
confrontation with police after many banks were
ransacked by hooded protesters.
Brazil's security situation is a challenge to cities that will
play host to the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic
Games.
The latest demonstration took place over several hours
and was peaceful at first.
But once night fell, violent incidents broke out as at
least 20 "black bloc" anarchists smashed a City Hall
gate while others broke into banks and tried to break
break into ATMs. Some banks were set alight.
Demonstrators also torched a bus on busy Rio Branco
Avenue, and took furniture out of banks to use in
barricades as the stand-off off with police continued.
Authorities used tear gas to restore order.
"Without the police, there is no violence. When they
are there, there always is," said anarchist Hugo Cryois,
23, who had a gas mask dangling from his neck.
"I came prepared," he said. "You can't trust them."
Teachers have been demanding a pay increase for two
months. About 50,000 people were estimated to have
marched to support them before the violence broke
out, but police would only confirm the 10,000
estimate.
A mostly peaceful teachers' protest in Rio ended in
violent confrontation after it was hijacked by a small
but violent group of masked young men
Monday's demonstration comes in the wake of citywide
strikes by unionised education workers in Rio over the
past few weeks
A BBC correspondent in Rio says there have been
several anti-government protests in Brazil, but not as
violent as this
An incendiary device was fired toward a government
building in Rio
Riot police tried to extinguish a fire on a bus allegedly
set by the Black Bloc group, which was blamed for the
violence
Teachers who have been pressing for a pay raise for
two months said 50,000 people went onto the streets
to give them support
receiving better pay in the Brazilian cities of Rio
de Janeiro and Sao Paulo have clashed with police.
The centre of Rio was packed with more than 10,000
people marching peacefully.
But as it got dark, some protesters threw firebombs at
public buildings and riot police responded with tear
gas.
A similar protest in Sao Paulo also ended in violent
confrontation with police after many banks were
ransacked by hooded protesters.
Brazil's security situation is a challenge to cities that will
play host to the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic
Games.
The latest demonstration took place over several hours
and was peaceful at first.
But once night fell, violent incidents broke out as at
least 20 "black bloc" anarchists smashed a City Hall
gate while others broke into banks and tried to break
break into ATMs. Some banks were set alight.
Demonstrators also torched a bus on busy Rio Branco
Avenue, and took furniture out of banks to use in
barricades as the stand-off off with police continued.
Authorities used tear gas to restore order.
"Without the police, there is no violence. When they
are there, there always is," said anarchist Hugo Cryois,
23, who had a gas mask dangling from his neck.
"I came prepared," he said. "You can't trust them."
Teachers have been demanding a pay increase for two
months. About 50,000 people were estimated to have
marched to support them before the violence broke
out, but police would only confirm the 10,000
estimate.
A mostly peaceful teachers' protest in Rio ended in
violent confrontation after it was hijacked by a small
but violent group of masked young men
Monday's demonstration comes in the wake of citywide
strikes by unionised education workers in Rio over the
past few weeks
A BBC correspondent in Rio says there have been
several anti-government protests in Brazil, but not as
violent as this
An incendiary device was fired toward a government
building in Rio
Riot police tried to extinguish a fire on a bus allegedly
set by the Black Bloc group, which was blamed for the
violence
Teachers who have been pressing for a pay raise for
two months said 50,000 people went onto the streets
to give them support
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