War on the streets – police attacked with drones

Chaos on the streets after bloody raids

Agnès Ericson

Updated 07.26 | Published 2025-10-28 23.15

2,500 police stormed the streets of Rio de Janeiro.

80 people have been arrested.

60 people have been killed.

It is described as the largest operation in the city's history.

A major dawn raid was carried out on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.

Early in the morning, 2,500 police and 32 armored vehicles stormed the poor and densely populated residential areas of Alemao and Penha on the outskirts of the city. Helicopters have been hovering in the air.

Intense gunfire has been going on all day.

A 65-year-old resident who spoke to The Guardian said the gunfire had been going on since just before 4 a.m.

“We have no idea when all this will end. It hasn’t ended. It’s not over,” she told the newspaper.

           

           

          Suspects are being forced to the ground.

          1 / 2Photo: Silvia Izquierdo / AP

Attacked with drones

It is described as the biggest crackdown ever against the Comando Vermelho drug cartel, which has had a tight grip on the shantytowns.

The gang has responded by firing back and setting barricades and cars on fire. They have also dropped explosives via drones on police forces, writes the Brazilian newspaper O Globo.

Smoke plumes have been seen for several kilometers.

More than 80 people have been arrested and 75 assault rifles have been seized. Pictures show police escorting suspected criminals through the streets.

"We are steadfast in the fight against narcoterrorism," said state governor Claudio Castro when he presented the progress of "Operation Containment."

            

            

            

            

           Police officers were attacked with drones during the raid.

           1 / 4Photo: Silvia Izquierdo / AP

Four police officers killed

64 people, four of whom are police officers, have been killed in the raid and that number could rise further.

There are also reports of civilians being injured. According to The Guardian, eight police officers and four residents were injured.

Schools and clinics were closed and bus lines have been rerouted due to the operation.

The raid is described as one of the deadliest in the state's history.

It takes place just a week before the C40 climate summit begins in Rio de Janeiro. In addition to mayors, business leaders and academics, the climate summit is also attended by world star Kylie Minogue.

This is not the first time that police have carried out major operations ahead of events in Brazil. The same thing was done ahead of the 2016 Olympics, the 2024 G20 summit and the BRICS summit in July.

 

Photo: Silvia Izquierdo / AP