A homemade bomb exploded tonight on a street crowded with Christmas shoppers in Brazil's largest city, injuring 12 people.
One woman was in hospital in a serious condition after the blast in central Sao Paulo. The others did not suffer life-threatening injuries.
Police were still investigating, but the bomb was probably left in a rubbish bin on de Marco street, a popular shopping venue attracting nearly 500,000 people a day during the Christmas season. There have been no arrests.
Witnesses said the bomb might have been thrown by an illegal street vendor at a group of police officers who were patrolling the area.
Local media said a pregnant woman and a five-year-old girl were among those injured, but police could not confirm the reports.
