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The number of deaths after one of the bloodiest police operations in the history of the Brazilian metropolis of Rio de Janeiro has apparently risen to 28.
This was reported by the Brazilian media, citing the police on Friday.
Accordingly, the victims were 27 suspects and an officer from the anti-drug unit.
Previously, at least 25 people, including 24 suspects, had been killed in violent clashes between suspected members of drug gangs and the police in the Jacarezinho favela.
The three other people died of their injuries in the hospital, according to the news agency "Agência Brasil".
According to the news portal "G1", which analyzed information from the state university UFF and the app "Fogo Cruzado" (crossfire), which collects data on armed violence, this was the police operation with the most deaths in the history of Rio de Janeiro.
A policeman during the operation in Jacarezinho
Source: REUTERS
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In July, the Supreme Court in Brasília suspended police operations in favelas during the corona pandemic.
These are only allowed in "absolute exceptional cases".
After the drug raid in the poor district of the Brazilian metropolis, angry protests against the police rose.
Hundreds of Jacarezinho residents took to the streets on Friday and accused the emergency services of having committed a "massacre".
“Stop killing us!” Shouted the protesters at their protest rallies in front of the police headquarters.
"This was one of the most barbaric acts in the history of the Rio police," said student Roger Denis of the AFP news agency.
“Stop killing us!” Yelled protesters
Source: AFP / MAURO PIMENTEL
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The police forces moved into the poor district of Jacarezinho with a large contingent on Thursday morning.
The governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Claudio Castro, defended the operation.
"The state government is most interested in clearing up the circumstances of the events in Jacarezinho," said Castro.
The raid was aimed at drug traffickers who are accused of recruiting minors for their illegal businesses.
Jacarezinho is a stronghold of the "Comando Vermelho" (Red Command) gang, which is considered the largest criminal organization in Rio de Janeiro.
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Powerful criminal syndicates such as the "Comando Vermelho" and a number of smaller gangs are wrestling in the slums to control drug trafficking and protection money.
The violence continues to spill over to other parts of Rio.
The police had said that those killed by the forces were "criminals";
the officers obeyed all operational rules before opening fire.
The police want to have adhered to all rules of action
Source: AFP / MAURO PIMENTEL
The day after the raid, calls for an independent investigation grew louder.
The critics demanded that the police should prove that those killed were actually "criminals".
On the other hand, it must be clarified why they were killed and not arrested.
In Geneva the spokesman for the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Rupert Colville, said the incidents needed to be investigated independently.
The Brazilian authorities should know that violence should only be used in extreme cases.
The Rio prosecutor has been ordered to investigate videos posted on online networks. One of the videos showed scenes that were tantamount to an extrajudicial execution, it said.