A Year Before the World Cup, Street Event in São Paulo Has Looting, People Injured and One Death

05/21/2013 - 08h34

More concentrated in downtown São Paulo than in previous years, the Virada Cultural, an event that features musical attractions and artistic interventions in São Paulo during 24 hours, ended on Sunday - however, it was one of the most violent editions in the nine years the event has been held.

A year before the 2014 World Cup fan fests, which will also occur in downtown São Paulo, a wave of looting, collective plundering, and robberies upstaged the shows, which again included rap, and also funk and forró concerts, along with major artistic interventions - this year's edition saw the solution of some infrastructure problems.

Despite this year's record-breaking budget of R$ 10 million (US$ 4.92 million) to reinforce infrastructure and safety and the 4,800 security agents, the highest number in the past five years, a 19-year-old was shot after reacting to a robbery on Rio Branco avenue and died in the hospital.

Tércio Teixeira/Folhapress

Fight during Virada Cultural in São Paulo

Another person died after an alleged drug overdose. Three others were shot and six were stabbed. In all, 28 people and nine teenagers were arrested by the police. Folha news report witnessed at least 11 public lootings downtown. Some attacks were comprised of up to 50 criminals on Ipiranga, São João, Rio Branco and Duque de Caxias avenues, the República square and the Jaceguai viaduct.

In a press conference, Mayor Fernando Haddad admitted "an increase in the number of occurrences". But Colonel Reynaldo Simões Rossi, who led police troops during the Virada Cultural, downplayed the statement, saying that he prefers to comment after all the data on the event is gathered.

Drugs were sold less than a block away from the police station on Aurora street and police officers remained in formation, without responding to robberies on Rio Branco street. Event PT (Workers Party) Senator Eduardo Suplicy had his mobile phone and wallet stolen during the event and went on stage after the Daniela Mercury concert to ask for his belongings to be returned - he in fact recovered some of his documents.

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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