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Rio’s Biggest Police Operation Leaves Disputed Death Toll as Calls for Probe Grow

A disputed death count with abuse allegations is fueling demands for an independent investigation.

Overview

  • Public defender reports 132 dead, the governor maintains about 60 and says the count may rise, and at least four officers are among the dead.
  • About 2,500 officers raided the Penha and Alemão complexes targeting the Comando Vermelho in what authorities describe as the state’s largest operation.
  • Authorities report 81 arrests, with some accounts citing 113, and say dozens of rifles and large quantities of drugs were seized.
  • Residents and lawyers describe bodies lined in streets and allege executions, while police cite sustained firefights and claim gangs used drones to drop explosives.
  • The UN human rights office urges swift independent inquiries as federal ministers head to Rio and tensions sharpen over tactics and responsibility.