Clash at Rio protest over transportation fare hike leaves cameraman seriously injured

Cameraman Andrade Santiago is helped after he was injured during violent clashes with police during a protest against a bus fare increase in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014. Police said Thursday that the cameraman for the Band TV station was injured in the protest and is in serious condition. It was not clear if the journalist was hit by a homemade explosive thrown by protesters or a stun grenade shot by police. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) (The Associated Press)

Protesters invade the central train station in protest against the increase of bus fares in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014. Last year, millions of people took to the streets across Brazil complaining of higher bus fares, poor public services and corruption while the country spends billions on the World Cup, which is scheduled to start in June. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) (The Associated Press)

A demonstrators kicks a security guard during a protest against the increase of bus fares in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014. Last year, millions of people took to the streets across Brazil complaining of higher bus fares, poor public services and corruption, while the country spends billions on the World Cup, which is scheduled to start in June. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) (The Associated Press)

Police and protesters violently clashed in Rio de Janeiro's main train station Thursday in a demonstration against a 10-cent hike in bus fare.

A cameraman for Band TV was hit in the head by either a stun grenade launched by police or a homemade explosive tossed by protesters; it was not immediately clear which.

Band said in a statement that cameraman Santiago Andrade was taken to a hospital by police and underwent surgery. He's in serious condition.

It's the latest protest to hit Brazil since last June, when nationwide demonstrations broke out after a sharp police crackdown on a group in Sao Paulo that was marching against an increase in public transportation fares. That increase was reversed in the face of protesters' pressure.

Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes recently approved a 10-cent increase for bus fares starting this Saturday.

About 800 protesters had peacefully gathered Thursday in central Rio before they started marching to the city's main train station, some holding aloft signs condemning the billions of dollars spent to host the World Cup, money they want used for better hospitals, schools and infrastructure.

Clashes broke out inside the train station after demonstrations began jumping over turnstiles and police used batons and tear gas to disperse members of the Black Block anarchist tactic. Police pushed the demonstrators outside and used more tear gas to disperse those gathered, while demonstrators hurled rocks at the officers.

Authorities were forced to close the station, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. Some bystanders were made ill by the tear gas, while others fainted.

Thais Jorao, a 22-year-old protester, said that demonstration wasn't simply because of the 10-cent bus fare hike.

"If it was a public transportation fare hike when we had good health services and education, you wouldn't have this many people on the street," he said. "On top of this you see spending with the World Cup, things that we really don't need. We want health, education, decent public transportation."