Black smoke rises above two of the most densely populated favelas in Rio de Janeiro - Compleção do Alemao and Compleção do Peña. In a video recorded by an eyewitness, shooting can be heard. Locals report that the shootings do not stop and many people are afraid to go out and go to work. Fires are burning in the narrow streets of the favelas.
The largest police operation in the history of Rio de Janeiro
Twenty kilometers away is the local administration, where Governor Claudio Castro gave a press conference, ARD writes. "The largest police operation in the history of Rio de Janeiro was carried out today”, he said. This is not only the largest but also the deadliest operation by Brazilian police in the city - 64 people were killed, including four police officers. Nine people suffered gunshot wounds.
Authorities say that this is part of a large-scale operation against drug trafficking and organized crime. Specifically, the operation is against the "Comando Vermelo" - a former prison gang from Rio de Janeiro, which is now an international criminal group that works with gangs from Peru, Colombia and some of the most important cocaine traffickers in Europe. Governor Castro said that the goal of the police operation was to stop the expansion of the "Comando Vermelo" and arrest the leaders of the criminal group in the Brazilian city.
Hours of deadlock
"It was like war”, commented one of the locals to a Brazilian television channel, quoted by ARD. "I couldn't leave the house. I was desperate, it was supposed to be my second day at a new job”. People were blocked for hours.
The favelas are located along the main access roads to the city. Some of them remained closed for hours, traffic throughout the city was disrupted, trains did not run. Many schools canceled classes and workers were sent home.
About 700 dead in just one year
Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes justifies his actions. "Rio de Janeiro cannot and will not be held captive by criminal groups who want to spread fear on the streets of our city", he said. "I have ordered all city authorities to maintain normal operations and, of course, to help the population if necessary."
The police in Rio de Janeiro continue to operate particularly aggressively in the favelas, which criminals use as refuges. Innocent civilians are often killed in such operations. In 2024, around 700 people died in security operations in Rio de Janeiro - almost two a day.
Author: Anne Herberg (ARD)