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Troops patrol Salvador amid police strike violence

Industrial action in Brazilian city sparked a 48-hour crime wave with 39 killed

Troops continued to patrol the streets of Brazilian city Salvador today following an outbreak of violence triggered by a police strike.

Thirty-nine deaths and widespread looting of supermarkets, pharmacies and electronics stores were reported in a 48-hour crime wave.

But police were returning to duty after ending their strike, which got under way on Tuesday.

Bahia state spokesman Isaac Jorge indicated that authorities would meet some of the strikers’ demands, including better pay, although such measures are subject to approval by the state legislature.

Hundreds of elite police units and soldiers armed with assault rifles guarded the streets after President Dilma Rousseff ordered their deployment.

“I authorised the deployment of federal troops to support public security and guarantee the peace in Bahia state,” Ms Rousseff said.

“It is unacceptable that the security of Bahia’s population is at risk.”

The defence ministry said 2,500 soldiers had been mobilised while Ms Rousseff had also authorised the deployment of 250 elite police officers, a figure that could be boosted to 5,000 men “until normal conditions are re-established.”

Local authorities indicated at least 50 arrests had been made and television showed images of looted stores following a stealing frenzy that lasted from Tuesday to Thursday.

A Bahia state court declared the strike illegal and imposed a daily $22,000 (£13,000) fine on the police union until the officers, who are demanding a pay increase and career plan improvements, returned to work.

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