These are the scenes in the Copacabana neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro just 50 days before Brazil hosts the World Cup.

Rubbish burns in the streets of a slum district in the tourist hotspot.

There are reports of widespread vandalism.

The sound of gunfire echoes in the night air.

The unrest has been sparked by the death of a 26-year-old man residents blame on police.

Witnesses say he looked as though he'd been beaten to death.

Copacabana and nearby Ipanema are both expecting tens of thousands of visitors when the World Cup kicks off in June.