Thousands of youths are organizing online and then trashing malls, say Brazilian authorities.
Six months before the World Cup, Brazilian authorities are openly worried about another threat to public safety in a country beset by crime troubles: flash mobs of "rowdy Brazilian youths," who are reportedly trashing shopping centers and malls across the nation.
Folha De S. Paulo
The mobs, known as "rolezinhos," are organized and coordinated on social media, reports Ahram Online. Hundreds of "thrill-seeking" youths then descend upon a shopping center or malls, often ending in robberies, a spokeswoman for the Brazilian Association of shopkeepers told Agence France-Presse.
Folha De S. Paulo
Police were called to a shopping mall in eastern Sao Paulo to break up a crowd of about 1,000 teenagers. Cops allegedly used tear gas, rubber bullets, and batons to disperse the group, according to videos taped by the participants posted on social media networks. Three people were subsequently detained.
These incidents have renewed concerns about Brazil's preparation for the World Cup, which starts on June 12. Many believe the ongoing crime troubles and protests have come in response to the event, which has cost Brazil an estimated $11 billion.
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