Protests in Brazil: chaos in Belo Horizonte

Since last June 10, Brazil finds itself covered in protests, which began in Sao Paulo exclusively by the increasing of public transport fares, but later extended to the whole country and gained new demands, including demands for increased public investment in education and health, and criticism towards corruption.

The protests, although largely peaceful, can lead to serious incidents such as the one recorded yesterday in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, where a small group of protesters started a fire at a car dealership, encouraged looting, attacked police officers with stones and threw Molotov cocktails near the Mineirão Stadium, where Brazil faced Uruguay for the Confederations Cup semifinal.

Protesters blocking a main access to the Mineirão Stadium.

Police officers, who were located in a fence to protect the soccer event, dispersed the protesters with tear gas. Furthermore, the officers mounted a fence on a 3-kilometer perimeter around the Mineirão and installed locks on access roads to the stadium, which could only be crossed by people with entry tickets to the match.

The clashes generated serious incidents that left 25 inmates and seven wounded, including two with severe and multiple fractures after falling from a viaduct.