Brazil: at least 64 reported killed in Rio's worst day of violence amid police favela raids

At least 64 people have lost their lives in the worst-ever day of violence in Rio, Brazil, following a massive police raid on favelas near the international airport. The operation, dubbed "Operation Containment," involved over 2,500 officers and special forces storming into Alemão and Penha favelas, where they clashed with members of the Red Command, one of Brazil's most powerful organized crime groups.

The predawn raid sparked intense gunfights in and around the favelas, with residents reporting hearing gunfire and explosions. The police operation was met with resistance from the Red Command, which reportedly used weaponized drones to drop explosives on special forces teams.

As the situation unfolded, authorities reported that at least 93 automatic rifles had been seized, and over 80 people were taken into custody. However, the violence continued, with reports of ongoing gunfights and clashes between police and gang members.

The death toll has risen to at least 64, including four police officers, with many more injured. Residents described scenes of chaos and destruction, with bodies strewn across the streets.

Critics have accused authorities of using excessive force and turning Rio's favelas into "war zones" as part of their failed "war on drugs." Human rights activists have also voiced outrage, with one politician tweeting that the operation was a "state-sponsored massacre."

The violence has had a significant impact on daily life in Rio, with schools, shops, bars, and restaurants closing down for fear of attacks. Motorways and roads were also closed due to gang activity, causing chaos for commuters.

As the situation continues to unfold, many are left wondering when it will end and whether the violence will be brought under control. For now, the favelas remain on high alert, with residents living in fear of further clashes between police and gang members.

this is so sad, like 64 people lost their lives already? it's just not right. i feel bad for the people who had to live through all that chaos and destruction. it's crazy that some people use drones to drop explosives... what kind of world are we living in now?

i also don't get why they have to resort to using so much force, like, can't they just talk to these people and figure something out? it feels like the police are trying to solve this problem with their guns drawn instead of being all like "hey, let's work together".

i hope that soon we'll see some real change in Rio, you know, like a way to stop all this violence and gang stuff. because right now, it just seems so hopeless...

The numbers are staggering 64 lives lost already... what's going on here? Favelas turned into war zones is this the best way to tackle crime? using drone-borne explosives against people just seems wrong and then you've got civilians getting caught in the crossfire 93 guns seized but at what cost? human rights activists are right to call it a state-sponsored massacre...

OMG I'm literally shaking thinking about what happened in Rio yesterday It's just so sad and devastating for all those innocent people who lost their lives. Like, the idea that entire neighborhoods were turned into war zones is just crazy . And can we talk about the fact that these favelas are basically caught in the middle of this police-gang conflict? It's like they're getting pulled in two different directions and nobody knows how to help them.

I'm also so frustrated with all the criticism from human rights activists and politicians. They're right, though - this is a huge issue that needs to be addressed ASAP . We need to find a way to bring peace back to these communities without resorting to violence or excessive force. It's not like it's rocket science .

This operation is a perfect example of how not to tackle organized crime. I mean, using special forces and all that fancy gear? That's just asking for a bloodbath. And it's not like the Red Command was going to give up without a fight. It's like they were expecting this kind of heavy-handed approach from the authorities.

And let's be real, 93 automatic rifles seized? That's not just a bunch of guns, that's an entire arsenal. I'm surprised they didn't find any rocket launchers or somethin' in there. And what about the civilians caught in the crossfire? Don't they deserve some protection?

I'm not saying the Red Command is blameless here, but this operation just seems like a prime example of how we're treating these kinds of situations all wrong. We need to find a better way to deal with organized crime that doesn't involve putting innocent lives at risk.

Also, can we talk about the impact on daily life in Rio? This is affecting people's livelihoods and causing chaos in the city. It's not just about the violence itself, it's about how it's being handled by the authorities.

Ugh this is so sad... like I get that authorities need to take action against organized crime but this seems extreme... 2500 officers? That's crazy! And the fact that they used drones to drop explosives on special forces teams is just crazy ... what kind of world are we living in? I feel bad for the residents who lost loved ones and were caught up in all the chaos . I hope they can get a handle on this situation soon and find a way to bring peace back to Rio .

omg like i just saw this news about rio and i'm literally shaking what's going on is so sad 64 people lost their lives? that's insane i feel so bad for the families of the victims it seems like the police operation was super intense but also kinda violent i don't know about all these organized crime groups and stuff but i do know that violence shouldn't be the answer to anything i mean what about education and jobs and all that? why can't they just find ways to make their lives better? anyway i hope everything gets sorted out soon and people can live in peace again

seriously? another day, more lives lost because of some group's 'struggle' . i mean, we all know the drill by now - police raid, guns go off, bodies pile up... it's like a bad movie script . and what's with these favelas being turned into "war zones"? didn't they just want to live in peace? . newsflash: there is no war zone, just some humans fighting over territory and power . and then the authorities come in all heavy-handed like a scene from Terminator . i'm not saying authorities can't handle situations, but sometimes you gotta wonder if it's all worth it... especially when innocent lives get caught in the crossfire .

this is just another example of how things can quickly spiral outta control in brazil the way police handled this op is super sus, seems like they were caught off guard by the red command's tactics... using weaponized drones as a last resort? that's some crazy stuff and yeah, it's no secret that brazils "war on drugs" has been a total fail the fact that people are being killed and injured just shows how messed up the system is

I'm totally shook by what's happening in Rio . I mean, 64 people dead? That's just horrific. As a student, it's hard to understand why this is happening, especially when we're trying to learn and grow in our own community. The fact that the police raid turned into an all-out battle with gang members is really worrying. It feels like we're living in a movie or something .

I'm not saying the authorities can't do anything about it, but I think they need to find a way to deal with the root causes of this violence instead of just using force . As someone who's been following this story, I feel like we need more information and solutions that don't involve putting innocent people in harm's way .

It's crazy how this is affecting daily life in Rio too – schools, shops, and restaurants are all closing down? That's just not normal . And it's like the whole city is on lockdown now . We need to find a way to make this violence stop ASAP .

omg what's going on in rio lol i'm still trying to process this news like 64 people lost their lives it's insane think about all those families affected by this police raid the way authorities are using excessive force is just not right, it's like they're creating a war zone in these favelas i mean, what's the point of 'war on drugs' if it's just gonna lead to more suffering and death? schools, shops, bars... everything has to close down because of fear motorways closed due to gang activity, that's like, totally not normal life i'm just so worried about the future of rio and its people when will this violence ever end?!

I'm deeply troubled by the brazen display of violence in Rio's favelas during "Operation Containment." The fact that over 2,500 officers were deployed to quell a perceived threat, resulting in an unprecedented loss of life, raises serious questions about the efficacy of aggressive law enforcement tactics. The use of weaponized drones to deploy explosives is particularly egregious, highlighting the need for more nuanced and humane approaches to addressing organized crime.

The notion that authorities are resorting to "war zones" in Rio's favelas is concerning, as it suggests a lack of investment in community-based initiatives and alternative solutions to address root causes of violence. I fear that this operation may exacerbate the very issues it aimed to resolve, leaving residents feeling vulnerable and disenfranchised.

As we wait for the situation to unfold, I hope that policymakers will take heed of the concerns raised by human rights activists and critics alike, and prioritize finding more sustainable and just solutions to addressing Rio's complex social and economic challenges.