CNN Crew Injured by Stun Grenades in Brazil World Cup Protests

CNN producers got caught up in a violent anti-World Cup protest Thursday in São Paulo, Brazil.

As the international soccer tournament descends upon the South American country, protestors have hit the streets to decry the expensive, wasteful nature of the FIFA World Cup. HBO’s John Oliver gave perhaps the most succinct explanation of the sports league’s various abuses this past Sunday, including but not limited to: Using public funds to build costly stadiums that go unused after the tournament; violating a variety of labor laws; bilking the taxpayers and leaving the country with no promised revenue.

During one of the protests, CNN producer Barbara Arvanitidis was injured, reportedly by a stun grenade. Journalist Ben Tavener snapped a photograph of her seated on the floor, crying out for her colleague Shasta Darlington, CNN’s Brazil bureau chief:

Correction: this is CNN producer Barbara Arvanitidis, injured apparently by stun grenade at #worldcup protest. pic.twitter.com/QsmQBUhYk5

— Ben Tavener (@BenTavener) June 12, 2014

She was taken away from the scene by medics. Meanwhile, the protests have reportedly reached “riot” scale, as tear gas and stun grenades become more prominently used by police forces.

UPDATE — 11:26 a.m. ET: Watch video below of the stun grenade attack that injured Arvanitidis:

[Featured image via Twitter]

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