Gang attacks

ASSAILANTS blew up homemade bombs outside symbols of authority early yesterday in Brazil’s largest city, Sao Paulo.

The explosions, which damaged government buildings and bank branches, appeared to be a new wave of attacks by a notorious gang led by inmates in the city’s prisons.

One of the explosions damaged the front of a state justice ministry in the city centre, and the force of the blast blew out windows of neighbouring buildings. Bullets were fired through windows of a nearby state finance ministry building.

There were no immediate reports of injuries.

In May, the gang, the First Capital Command, launched attacks on the streets of South America’s largest city that prompted a week of violence, killing nearly 200 prison guards, suspected criminals, jail inmates and bystanders.