Armed with rocks, bricks, sticks, anything they could get their hand on and including “molotov cocktails”, a group of young Costa Ricans over took the small number of police officials outside the Legislative Assembly building in downtown San José.
It was 1:oopm when the calm of the day was broken.
The demonstrators, according to authorities, clashed with police and the press, beating television cameramen, journalists and number of police officers.
The riot police squad had to be called into action, to repel the group whose number were much larger than the police officers – the majority female officers – assigned to the front of the Legislative building.
Juan José Andrade, San José chief of the Fuerza Pública (police) said the group attacked anyone in their way, causing injury to people and damage to property.
At least 20 bottles filled with fuel were thrown against the legislative building, causing some to get sick from the strong odors. Fortunately, none of the fuel ignited.
Five people had to be treated by the Cruz Roja (Red Cross), with cuts and bruises.
Police say they detained twenty individuals after a tense half hour of violence.
