SAO PAULO (AP):
A NOTORIOUS criminal gang unleashed a second wave of attacks against police yesterday, bringing to at least 52 the number of people killed in the deadliest assault of its kind in the history of Brazil's largest state, authorities said.
Another 39 related prison rebellions also broke out yesterday, bringing the number of uprisings across Sao Paulo state to 57. Inmates were holding more than 260 people hostage. The state has a total of 144 prisons.
Officials say the attacks and prison rebellions were planned by the First Capital Command, known by its Portuguese initials PCC.
The attacks were in response to the transfer of several imprisoned PCC leaders, a practice authorities use to sever prisoners' ties to gang members outside prison.
Eight PCC leaders were among 765 inmates transferred to a remote, high-security facility in the far western tip of Sao Paulo state.
The press office of the Sao Paulo state government said the PCC carried out at least 100 separate attacks on Friday, Saturday and yesterday that killed at least 35 police officers, the girlfriend of one of them, two passers-by and 14 suspected gang members.
50 PEOPLE WOUNDED
The attacks and ensuing gun battles wounded another 50 people - 36 policemen, eight bystanders and six suspects - the state government's press office said in a statement.
At least 16 suspects have been arrested.
Authorities said police units were on maximum alert, and the federal government said it was ready to help the state with all means available.
Officers in bullet-proof vests set up checkpoints to search vehicles, and barriers were placed in front of many police stations to keep pedestrians and vehicles away. TV footage showed bullet-riddled police cars and shattered glass at one station.
Assailants also attacked patrol cars, bars where off-duty policemen gather, a courthouse and a highway police outpost on the outskirts of the city of Sao Paulo.
