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LATIN AMERICA |
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Angry
Commuters Set Train Ablaze in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO – A commuter train was set on
fire and several stations vandalized on
Wednesday by passengers angry over a system
breakdown during the morning rush hour,
Brazil’s Globo television said, citing
authorities.
Eleven people required hospital treatment
for minor injuries, Col. Evandro Bezerra of
the Rio de Janeiro fire department told the
network.
The focus of the disturbances was in the Rio
suburb of Nilopolis, where the train was set
ablaze and passengers blocked city streets
until police dispersed them.
The Nilopolis station was in ruins by the
time police arrived, a senior officer told
Globo, adding that his men were forced to
use tear gas against “extremely violent
people” in the crowd.
Globo broadcast images of infuriated
commuters vandalizing two other suburban
stations.
The violence came after a train broke down
at 7:40 a.m., effectively shutting down the
system and forcing the passengers to travel
on foot to another station.
The commuter rail network, which is the main
form of transport in the suburbs of Rio de
Janeiro, did not resume normal operations
until nearly midday.
System operator SuperVia sought to mollify
passengers by distributed free tickets at
the Nilopolis and announced that commuters
on the affected line will travel Thursday at
no charge. EFE
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