Protesters and police clashed in Sao Paulo Thursday, as demonstrations against the World Cup and rallies calling for improved public services erupted in several Brazilian cities.

Officers in Brazil’s largest city fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters who set piles of rubbish alight to barricade a central avenue.

Demonstrators blasted the billions spent to host next month’s football tournament and said they wanted to draw attention to what they called a lack of investment to improve poor public services.

The demonstration turned violent when some people smashed the windows of a Hyundai car dealership and the offices of a bank. Police arrested seven people carrying Molotov cocktails.
Thursday’s demonstrations blocked two key roads into Sao Paulo during the morning commute.
Police blocked the main entrance next to a construction zone where cranes and other machines were lined up to carry materials still needed to finish the football arena.

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