Stray bullet wounds Brazilian boy in World Cup host city; police investigating causes

SAO PAULO – A stray bullet grazed the neck of a 7-year-old boy near a site where thousands had gathered to watch a large-screen broadcast of Brazil playing Mexico in the World Cup host city of Fortaleza, police said Wednesday.

Police said they are investigating the cause of Tuesday’s shooting. No one else was hurt and the hospital where the boy was being treated says his wound was not life-threatening.

Meanwhile fist fights broke out between Australian, Dutch and Brazilian fans that had gathered near bars and restaurants of Porto Alegre, a day before The Netherlands and Australia were to meet in the Estadio Beira-Rio there.

The G1 Internet news portal posted a video showing one man with a gun in a holster, though he did not draw the weapon. Police quickly dispersed the crowd and no one was arrested or hurt.

In downtown Sao Paulo, police used pepper spray on fans trying to force their way into a fan fest locale to watch the Brazil-Mexico game. Police said the area had been sealed off because it had already reached its capacity of 25,000 spectators.

Some fans hurled bottles and metal crowd-control barriers at police, injuring 15 people, none seriously.