Rio de Janeiro, Jul 13 (IANS/EFE): The toll from an overnight shooting spree in greater Sao Paulo stands at eight, authorities in the Brazilian metropolis said Thursday.

The victims were shot in separate incidents in the Sao Paulo suburb of Osasco, but police say they suspect the same group was behind all of the violence.

After initially suggesting the shootings were connected to the celebration following Wednesday night's victory of the Palmeiras soccer club in the Copa do Brasil competition, authorities later concluded the shooters simply exploited the presence of crowds on the streets after midnight.

The perpetrators fired indiscriminately from moving cars and motorcycles, police said.

The police insisted the violence had nothing to do with antagonism between fans of rival soccer teams.

All of the shootings took place on streets near bars and other spots where cocaine and marijuana are known to be sold, police said.