Brazil has given special training to more than 10,000 riot troops to help control demonstrations expected during the 2014 World Cup.
The troops have been selected from state police throughout Brazil and will be deployed in the 12 cities that will host matches from June 12 to July 13, says Colonel Alexandre Augusto Aragon, who heads the elite National Security Force.
The training started in 2011, but Aragon said protests during the recent Confederations Cup had "scared" authorities.
During the protests one million people took to the streets across Brazil, complaining initially of higher bus fares, corruption and poor public services.
They later added unhappiness about the investment in the World Cup and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics to their complaints.
"There will be no World Cup," became one a popular chant. "FIFA go home," was another.
Jerome Valcke, the top FIFA official in charge of the World Cup, said the tournament would have "the highest level of security you can imagine".
He said he was satisfied with the police response to the protests.
Share
