Federal Highway Police (PRF) agents were injured during violent interventions by protesters who closed highways in Pará and Santa Catarina. Video records gained repercussion this afternoon (7) on social networks.
The two episodes are related to the protests that have taken place since the results of the second round of the presidential elections were announced on October 30th. Blockades of highways started to be carried out by discontented with the victory of Luís Inácio Lula da Silva. During the acts, protesters question the security of the electronic voting machines and defend a military intervention.
In Pará, the attack took place in the morning. PRF agents were shot at on BR-163, in Novo Progresso, in the south of the state. There, the highway was obstructed by several protesters, some of them wearing the shirt of the Brazilian team.
In the images, it is possible to hear many shots and at least one man carrying a gun. After the PRF vehicles leave the place under a hail of gunfire, stones and sticks, the protesters celebrate to the sound of many horns.
The PRF said in a statement that a police officer was injured, but did not give details of the severity. In addition, the text records that a child felt sick and was taken to the emergency room, but has already been discharged and is doing well.
In Santa Catarina, the attack took place in the municipality of Rio Sul, about 190 kilometers from the capital Florianópolis. Protesters were concentrated on BR-470 in front of a Havan store owned by Luciano Hang.
Videos show police officers were surrounded by dozens of men, some wielding iron bars and others throwing objects. Many of them wore the shirt of the Brazilian team or were wrapped in Brazilian flags.
According to the PRF, the episode took place around 3:30 pm, shortly after the release of the road that had been blocked since 10 am. One involved in the assaults was arrested and at least two agents had minor head and arm injuries. “Were it not for the helmet, the officer could have suffered serious injuries to the skull,” the PRF said.
The agents were forced to retreat and used tear gas to disperse the crowd. The situation was normalized with the reinforcement of the Santa Catarina Military Police’s riot squad.
In a balance sheet released shortly before 4 pm, the PRF reported that there were 15 partial road closures in Brazil and four blockages, completely paralyzing the flow. According to the corporation, since the end of the second round of elections, 1,049 demonstrations have been undone.
