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Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro turns into battleground

Peaceful rally turns into violent protest
Photo by AP Photo/Felipe Dana
Photo by AP Photo/Felipe Dana

RIO DE JANEIRO, October 8. (Itar-Tass) – Barricades, smoldering car tires, Molotov cocktails and tear gas were the highlights of Monday night in Rio. The large Brazilian resort city turned into a real battle zone: law enforcements and hundreds of Black Blocs anarchists who rallied for support of the national teacher’s strike clashed on city streets. According to the local police, around 15 protesters were arrested; one of them was 13 years old.

The demonstration had over ten thousand participants, as estimated by law enforcements; initially it went peacefully and orderly. However, after it was over, anarchists attempted to storm the Municipal Chamber of Rio de Janeiro located on the Cinelândia square.

The police had to use tear gas and stun grenades to disperse provocateurs, who managed to launch over a dozen Molotov cocktails at the building, tag it with anarchist slogans and break several windows.  

After dissipating to adjacent streets, Black Block anarchists, all aged under 16, started trashing storefronts and bank offices. The building of the US consulate was damaged in the disorders. A city bus was burnt down and five more caught fire.