A violent police operation targeting drug traffickers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has resulted in the deaths of at least 119 people, nearly double the initially reported toll of 60. The victims included 115 members of the powerful criminal organization Comando Vermelho and four police officers, according to local authorities. However, the public prosecutor’s office suggested an even higher death toll of 132. The operation, involving approximately 2,500 officers, focused on the Penha Complex and Alemao Complex neighborhoods in the city’s north. It was supported by armored vehicles, helicopters, and drones, with intense gunfire exchanges reported between police and suspected gang members. Authorities stated that suspects barricaded themselves in buses and deployed explosive drones during the clashes. Victor Santos, Rio’s security chief, acknowledged that the high casualty count was “expected but not desired,” while Governor Claudio Castro labeled the situation as “narco-terrorism” and emphasized that the police were “the only real victims.” The operation has drawn widespread criticism, with residents describing it as a “massacre” and accusing police of extrajudicial executions. Mourning families gathered at sites where bodies were laid out, with one resident from Penha Complex stating, “The state came for a bloodbath, not a police operation. They came purely to kill, to take lives.” Activist Raul Santiago condemned the violence, citing evidence of executions with shots to the back of the head or back. Brazilian Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski revealed that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was “shocked” by the death toll and surprised that the operation occurred without federal government knowledge. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern, urging a swift and thorough investigation and emphasizing that police operations must comply with international human rights standards. Police raids in Brazil’s favelas are often deadly, with approximately 700 deaths recorded in Rio in 2024 alone. Human rights organizations have questioned the timing of such operations, which frequently precede major international events. Rio is set to host the C40 World Mayors Summit and the Earthshot Prize next week, followed by the UN Climate Summit COP30 in November. Santos denied any connection between the raid and these upcoming events.
Controverse en internationale bezorgdheid bij politie-invallen in Rio de Janeiro
