Priscilla Mazenotti
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met today (15) with the minister of Justice, Márcio Thomaz Bastos, to discuss the measures that will be taken in reaction to a series of prison attacks in the state of São Paulo and other instances of violence.

One of the measures to contain the wave of violence in the state was announced this weekend. The minister of Justice placed the four thousand members of the National Force at the disposal of the São Paulo government to help in combatting the violence.

The attacks began on Friday (12) and so far have left at least 50 people dead. Over 40 buses have been burned. There have been 115 attacks on government buildings and civil and military police posts around the state. The fatal victims include 20 military police. More than 4 thousand buses failed to circulate today in São Paulo out of fear of the wave of violence. According to the State of São Paulo Bank Employees' Union, around 18 bank branches have been targets of acts of vandalism since the attacks began. Some of the branches were set ablaze by Molotov cocktails.

The attacks also spread to the states of Mato Grosso and Paraná, where prison rebellions occurred.

Translation: David Silberstein