Clashes as police evict squatters in Rio de Janeiro

[Jazzy]

A huge police operation to evict hundreds of families from abandoned buildings in Rio de Janeiro has ended with violent clashes and some injuries.

More than 1,500 police officers had arrived at dawn to evict nearly 5,000 people from the site, belonging to a telecommunication company.

Some families left peacefully, but clashes began when others resisted.

Groups of squatters threw rocks at police who responded with tear gas and stun grenades.

Hundreds of children were among the crowds.

Vehicles were set on fire and supermarkets were looted.

Several people were injured, including children and police officers.

Cranes and tractors demolished wooden huts built around the buildings, many still full of the belongings residents had had no time to pack.

"They (the police) came here breaking everything, removing the people from there," said Sandro Sousa, a squatter.

"We lost our home and we are now trying to have a house," he told the Associated Press news agency.

"I am crying because I have nowhere to go to. I have no place to live," said another, Drielo Almeida.

The families began occupying the abandoned plot in northern Rio 10 days ago, moving in from the city's favelas or shanty towns.

The site was already being called Rio's newest favela.

The BBC's Julia Carneiro in the Brazilian city says pictures on local media showed how fast work was progressing.

"The area was quickly divided into tiny plots, shacks were being raised and some residents already had illegal power connections," she says.

Owned by a telecommunications company, the buildings are not far from one of the venues for the 2016 Olympic Games, which will take place in Rio.

What is your reaction to this?

 

[Nebulous]

The families began occupying the abandoned plot in northern Rio 10 days ago, moving in from the city's favelas or shanty towns.

Well I guess, 10 days later, they can go back to the shanty towns, but that country should have aid for these types of people.

 

[Jazzy]

I feel sorry for them to be honest. The buildings were abandoned and these people were homeless. They should have at least given them a forewarning this was going to happen so they could have gotten all their meager possessions out before everything was demolished. I just wonder if they would have cared this much if it weren't for the the fact the buildings aren't far from where the 2016 Olympic Games will be held.

 

[DrLeftover]

This isn't about the 2016 Olympics.

This is about the World Cup that starts in June.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/

 

[Evil Eye]

This is about the World Cup that starts in June.

Gotta look good for the international guests.