Deadly Rio police raid kills 64

At least 64 people were killed in Rio de Janeiro during the city’s largest-ever police operation, officials said, as authorities moved against the Comando Vermelho gang ahead of major international climate-related events. The toll, confirmed by Governor Cláudio Castro and including four police officers, more than doubled the previous deadliest raid in Rio. Authorities described the operation as the biggest deployment against the criminal network, sending some 2,500 police and military personnel into the Complexo do Alemão and Penha favela complexes at dawn, supported by armoured vehicles, helicopters, drones and weapons-detection systems to carry out hundreds of arrest and search warrants.

Officials reported that around 60 of those killed were alleged gang members, more than 80 suspects were arrested, and security forces seized over 90 rifles and more than half a tonne of drugs. Governor Castro declared the city “at war” with organized crime and characterised the operation as a response to what he called “narco-terrorism.” Authorities framed the raid as part of intensified efforts to dismantle entrenched criminal structures ahead of international gatherings in Rio, including a summit of global mayors and cultural events tied to the upcoming COP30 climate conference in Brazil.

Human-rights groups and critics condemned the scale and lethality of the operation and called for an independent investigation, saying the heavy-handed tactics reflect ongoing systemic problems in policing Rio’s favelas and risk further harm to marginalized communities. Observers noted concerns that security forces routinely stage large operations before high-profile events, citing past crackdowns during the 2016 Olympics and other summits. Critics warned that such raids may exacerbate gang control and community insecurity rather than resolving underlying issues.

Local residents described scenes of chaos as the raid unfolded: sustained gunfire, smoke-filled streets, roadblocks and closures of schools and universities in affected areas. The authorities’ use of heavy machinery and aerial surveillance raised questions about proportionality and civilian safety amid densely populated neighborhoods. Emergency and recovery operations were reported as continuing, with the full impact on families and local infrastructure still emerging.

Calls for transparency and accountability have intensified, with human-rights organisations urging forensic reviews, independent probes and public reporting of operational planning, rules of engagement and casualty verification. Security officials defended the raid as necessary to restore order and protect citizens, while promising follow-up actions against organized crime.