BELO HORIZONTE (Brazil), June 13 — Protesters angry over Brazil’s multi-billion-dollar spending on the World Cup trashed stores and banks and clashed with police today in Belo Horizonte, one of the 12 cities hosting the tournament.

Backed by trucks and helicopters, dozens of police marched up a main street in the southeastern city to reclaim it from around 200 demonstrators who were brandishing signs with messages such as “Down with the Cup!”

The two groups clashed just as the World Cup opening ceremony was getting under way in Sao Paulo and continued as Brazil and Croatia took to the pitch for kick-off.

Protesters overturned a police car and broke the windows of buildings in the central business district.

A Reuters photographer was hurt when he was hit in the head by a rock thrown by a protester, said local daily Estado de Minas.

Police arrested four protesters, the newspaper said.

Brazil was shaken by protests as the World Cup opened, including in Sao Paulo, where riot police fired tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets to stop radical activists from marching on Corinthians Arena, where the opening match was played. — AFP

A demonstrator holds a sign as he protests from the top of a structure during a public screening of the 2014 World Cup opening match between Brazil and Croatia at Zocalo Square in downtown Mexico City June 12, 2014. — Reuters pic