Río de Janeiro was scene of clashes over evictions

The eviction of an telecommunications company old plant in the north of Rio de Janeiro, invaded by some 5,000 people claiming by their right to housing today provoked clashes between the occupants and Brazilian security forces.

A police vehicle, a truck and a bus that passing by the place and one of the grounds of the former plant were burned by the occupants of the terrain Engenho Novo, place where previously functioned the old telecommunications company in Rio de Janeiro Telerj.

The eviction operation by the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro began at 05.00 local time (08.00 GMT) and incidents broke out when one of the community leaders, known as “the Telerj Favela” was arrested while trying to oppose the action of the security forces.

According to recorded TV channels, about one thousand occupants who refused to leave the place caused fires and threw Molotov bombs against police, who responded using tear gas to disperse the crowd.