The streets of Rio burnt with fires following after violent protests erupted on the streets of Copacabana and Ipanema, Wednesday. The unrest broke in the Pavao Pavaozinho favela after residents found the dead body of Douglas Rafael da Silva, a dancer from the television show “Esquenta.”
One person was reportedly shot dead as crowds accused military police of the death of da Silva. The Police Pacification Unit, known as UPP, denies the accusation.
The Sa Freire Tunnel underneath the area was closed for several hours due to fires and destruction. Fire services were out in great numbers to extinguish the fires that had been lit all around the neighbourhood. A large police presence remains on the streets.
