Brazilian police favela raid leaves 64 dead in bloody 'clear...

Brazilian police favela raid leaves 64 dead in bloody 'clear out' days before Prince William's visit

Dozens of bodies have been laid out in the street of a Brazilian favela after police killed over 60 in a gang raid just days before Prince William is set to visit the country. More than 40 dead bodies were seen on a street in Rio de Janeiro's Penha favela complex early on Wednesday, just a day after the most lethal police operation in the city's history targeting a major gang. Rio de Janeiro state authorities said on Tuesday that at least 64 people, including four cops, were killed in the raids which saw 2,500 police officers descend on the city. Ninety-three rifles and half a tonne of drugs were seized in the operation, authorities said. An updated death toll is expected later on Wednesday. Heavily armed officers backed with 32 ballistic-resistant vehicles, two helicopters, 12 demolition vehicles and drones descended on two favela neighbourhoods in the northern region of Rio on Tuesday afternoon. Gunfire rang out for miles near RIOgaleão International Airport, and smoke could be seen billowing from the raging fires which broke out several hours after the busts began. Residents in the impoverished neighbourhoods scrambled for cover and shops closed their doors amid police claims that the gangs were retaliating with drones of their own. The central government said the blitz was launched to halt the narcotics network of a gang called Comando Vermelho - meaning Red Command - from expanding its operations. But there has been swirling speculation the raid may have been designed as a warning to gang members ahead of two important international events which will be held next week in the city - the C40 global gathering of mayors tackling climate change, and the awarding of Prince William's Earthshot Prize. State Governor Claudio Castro described the war-like operation, which unfolded in the Complexo da Penha and Complexo do Alemao favelas, as the largest in the state's history. Castro reported a death toll of 60 suspected gang members, and a source within his administration said at least four police officers were killed during the raids. Sharing a video of a suspected gang-controlled drone launching a projectile from the foggy skies, Castro said: 'This is how the Rio police are treated by criminals: with bombs dropped by drones. 'This is the scale of the challenge we face. This is not ordinary crime, but narcoterrorism.' Police could be seen in the Vila Cruzeiro neighbourhood of Penha, guarding around 20 young people who were huddled together and sitting on the pavement with their heads bowed, barefoot, and shirtless. Dramatic images from the raids show alleged criminals being led away by police, who made around 81 arrests. One anonymous resident said: 'This is the first time we've seen drones (from criminals) dropping bombs in the community. Everyone is terrified because there's so much gunfire.' Police used their destroyer vehicles to smash a row of barricades which had been erected by drug traffickers to prevent police from entering the narrow streets of the favelas. Congressman Henrique Vieira, an evangelical pastor, roundly condemned the police operation. The state government 'treats the favela as enemy territory, with a license to shoot and kill,' he wrote on X. The UN human rights office also denounced Tuesday's violence, saying it was 'horrified' by the scenes. 'This deadly operation furthers the trend of extreme lethal consequences of police operations in Brazil's marginalised communities,' UN officials said in a statement. 'We remind authorities of their obligations under international human rights law, and urge prompt and effective investigations.' While raids in Rio's favelas are common due to their links to drug crime, gangs and violence, this is the deadliest bust there has ever been. Until now the highest death toll came in a raid in 2021 that left 28 people dead. Last year, approximately 700 people died during police operations in Rio. Experts and human rights groups have lambasted the security efforts in Brazil, deeming them ineffective against criminal organisations. The Human Rights Commission of the Rio State Legislative Assembly will demand 'explanations of the circumstances of the action, which has once again transformed Rio's favelas into a theatre of war and barbarism,' said Dani Monteiro, a congresswoman who heads the commission. Tuesday's operation also wreaked havoc on many of the city's streets, which were ground to a dramatic halt. 'We're left without buses, without anything, in this chaos and not knowing what to do,' said Regina Pinheiro, a 70-year-old retiree, who was trying to return home.

Dozens of bodies have been laid out in the street of a Brazilian favela after police killed over 60 in a gang raid just days before Prince William is set to visit the country.

More than 40 dead bodies were seen on a street in Rio de Janeiro's Penha favela complex early on Wednesday, just a day after the most lethal police operation in the city's history targeting a major gang.

Rio de Janeiro state authorities said on Tuesday that at least 64 people, including four cops, were killed in the raids which saw 2,500 police officers descend on the city. Ninety-three rifles and half a tonne of drugs were seized in the operation, authorities said.

An updated death toll is expected later on Wednesday.

Heavily armed officers backed with 32 ballistic-resistant vehicles, two helicopters, 12 demolition vehicles and drones descended on two favela neighbourhoods in the northern region of Rio on Tuesday afternoon.

Gunfire rang out for miles near RIOgaleão International Airport, and smoke could be seen billowing from the raging fires which broke out several hours after the busts began.

Residents in the impoverished neighbourhoods scrambled for cover and shops closed their doors amid police claims that the gangs were retaliating with drones of their own.

The central government said the blitz was launched to halt the narcotics network of a gang called Comando Vermelho - meaning Red Command - from expanding its operations.

But there has been swirling speculation the raid may have been designed as a warning to gang members ahead of two important international events which will be held next week in the city - the C40 global gathering of mayors tackling climate change, and the awarding of Prince William's Earthshot Prize.

State Governor Claudio Castro described the war-like operation, which unfolded in the Complexo da Penha and Complexo do Alemao favelas, as the largest in the state's history.

Castro reported a death toll of 60 suspected gang members, and a source within his administration said at least four police officers were killed during the raids.

Sharing a video of a suspected gang-controlled drone launching a projectile from the foggy skies, Castro said: 'This is how the Rio police are treated by criminals: with bombs dropped by drones.

'This is the scale of the challenge we face. This is not ordinary crime, but narcoterrorism.'

Police could be seen in the Vila Cruzeiro neighbourhood of Penha, guarding around 20 young people who were huddled together and sitting on the pavement with their heads bowed, barefoot, and shirtless.

Dramatic images from the raids show alleged criminals being led away by police, who made around 81 arrests.

One anonymous resident said: 'This is the first time we've seen drones (from criminals) dropping bombs in the community. Everyone is terrified because there's so much gunfire.'

Police used their destroyer vehicles to smash a row of barricades which had been erected by drug traffickers to prevent police from entering the narrow streets of the favelas.

Congressman Henrique Vieira, an evangelical pastor, roundly condemned the police operation.

The state government 'treats the favela as enemy territory, with a license to shoot and kill,' he wrote on X.

The UN human rights office also denounced Tuesday's violence, saying it was 'horrified' by the scenes.

'This deadly operation furthers the trend of extreme lethal consequences of police operations in Brazil's marginalised communities,' UN officials said in a statement.

'We remind authorities of their obligations under international human rights law, and urge prompt and effective investigations.'

While raids in Rio's favelas are common due to their links to drug crime, gangs and violence, this is the deadliest bust there has ever been. Until now the highest death toll came in a raid in 2021 that left 28 people dead.

Last year, approximately 700 people died during police operations in Rio.

Experts and human rights groups have lambasted the security efforts in Brazil, deeming them ineffective against criminal organisations.

The Human Rights Commission of the Rio State Legislative Assembly will demand 'explanations of the circumstances of the action, which has once again transformed Rio's favelas into a theatre of war and barbarism,' said Dani Monteiro, a congresswoman who heads the commission.

Tuesday's operation also wreaked havoc on many of the city's streets, which were ground to a dramatic halt.

'We're left without buses, without anything, in this chaos and not knowing what to do,' said Regina Pinheiro, a 70-year-old retiree, who was trying to return home.