Rio cops suspended for protest assaults

Workers install a giant soccer ball in the centre of a traffic roundabout near the stadium in Cuiaba prior to the 2014 World Cup. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Workers install a giant soccer ball in the centre of a traffic roundabout near the stadium in Cuiaba prior to the 2014 World Cup. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Published Jul 16, 2014

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Sao Paulo - The Rio de Janeiro police department has suspended four officers caught on video beating journalists during an anti-World Cup protest held the last day of the tournament on July 13.

A press officer at Rio's police department said Wednesday the four officers “will remain suspended until the conclusion of the investigation of their supposed wrongdoing.” He would not elaborate. The press officer spoke on condition of anonymity, citing departmental rules.

Bernardo Moura is a spokesman for the Rio de Janeiro journalists' union. He says 15 journalists were injured at the protest including a Canadian, Peruvian and Italian and two Brazilians working for foreign news agencies. None of the 15 were seriously injured.

Sapa-AP

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