MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazilians continue to violently protest higher transport cost in the main cities

Protestors torched buses and security forces fired rubber bullets and tear gas (Photo: AFP)

Sao Paulo authorities were on Wednesday assessing the damage from a violent protest over higher public transportation prices that left three people hurt and 20 detained overnight. Demonstrators torched buses, hurled petrol bombs and smashed windows during clashes with police who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Shops, public telephone booths, banks and some metro stations were also vandalized in the third outbreak of violence since last Thursday over a 7% hike in bus, metro and train ticket prices from the equivalent of 1.5 to 1.6 dollar.

“I think it was the most violent protest judging by the intensity and the rage of the demonstrators,” police Lieutenant Colonel Marcelo Pignatari told the G1 news website.

He added that 20 protesters were arrested while three police officers were hurt in the clashes, which erupted as Sao Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad and State Governor Geraldo Alckmin were in Paris to promote the city's bid to host World Expo 2020.

The demonstrators scheduled more protests in Brazil's economic capital, which is home to 11 million people, to roll back the transport price hikes.

Last week similar demonstrators were held in other Brazilian cities, including Natal in the northeast, Goiania in the center, Salvador in the northeast and Rio, where violent clashes and destruction of property occurred.