Political situation in Brazil

Deadly police operation in Rio worries UN: “Dismayed”

The UN agency OHCHR says it is “dismayed” by Tuesday’s police operation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in which 64 people were killed. The operation, in which thousands of police and soldiers participated, aimed to arrest drug traffickers and gang members.

In a statement, the OHCHR writes that the raid is proof of the catastrophic consequences of police operations against “Brazil’s marginalized communities” can have.

“We remind the authorities of their obligations under international human rights law and call for prompt and effective investigations,” the statement says.

Rio Governor Claudio Castro describes the operation as the largest in the state’s history. The raid has so far resulted in 80 arrests.

Major crackdown on gangs in Brazil – 64 dead

64 people have been killed in a large-scale police operation in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, CNN Brasil reports. Governor Claudio Castro says that over 2,500 police and soldiers took part in the massive operation targeting the Comando Vermelho gang.

Among the dead are four police officers and two civilians, according to the channel.

According to authorities, it is the largest operation in the state's history.