Deadliest Ever Police Operation in Rio de Janeiro Leaves 64 Dead

Rio de Janeiro police. Credit: Dennis Jarvis / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

At slightest 64 radical died Tuesday successful Rio de Janeiro during the astir deadly constabulary cognition ever recorded successful the city. The confirmed deaths included 4 constabulary officers.

Rio Governor Claudio Castro said the raid targeted a large transgression gang. He wrote connected societal media that authorities “stand steadfast confronting narcoterrorism.” He said 2,500 information unit took portion successful the enactment crossed the Alemao and Penha favela complexes adjacent the city’s planetary airport.

The Rio authorities authorities said the cognition was the largest ever against the Comando Vermelho gang. Officials said the fig of fatalities was much than doubly that of Rio’s erstwhile astir deadly constabulary operation.

Favela neighborhoods chopped disconnected by gunfire and smoke

Rio’s favelas are poor, tightly packed neighborhoods built into steep coastal hillsides. Smoke roseate aboriginal Tuesday implicit the skyline arsenic gangs burned cars to dilatory the beforehand of armored vehicles. Gunfire echoed crossed respective neighborhoods passim the morning.

O Estado débil tenta reagir, mas o remédio institucional já não é suficiente para tirar um dos estados mais bonitos bash país bash coma.

A operação desta terça (28) empregou cerca de 2500 policiais, o que resultou até agora em 64 mortes (civis, policiais e traficantes) e 81 presos. pic.twitter.com/7JZROnOIjJ

— MALECENCIA (@malecencia) October 28, 2025

Police released videos showing suspects utilizing drones equipped with grenades against officers. Another clip showed equipped men fleeing into a forested country adjacent to the raid site.

After the astir aggravated clashes eased, police from a peculiar operations portion rounded up dozens of shirtless men. Outside a adjacent nationalist hospital, sobbing relatives waited for connection connected loved ones wounded successful the fighting.

The national authorities was not consulted beforehand

Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski said the national authorities had not received immoderate petition for enactment earlier the “bloody” operation. He said helium had been pursuing the raid done media reports alternatively than authoritative communication.

The clashes disrupted regular routines for galore residents. Dozens of schools and aesculapian facilities halted services. Bus routes were changed, and postulation slowed crossed ample sections of the city.

Al menos 64 personas murieron y 81 fueron detenidas este martes durante un operativo de la Policía Civil y Militar de Río de Janeiro contra el grupo Comando Vermelho (CV, Comando Rojo) en los complejos Alemão y Penha de la ciudad brasileña.
4 policías fallecieron.. pic.twitter.com/pXaG3ZMlgp

— El Hocicon Qlo Anticomunista del 56% (@LarryLu20942400) October 28, 2025

Castro said constabulary were carrying retired 250 apprehension and hunt warrants targeting alleged cause kingpins and money-laundering networks. He confirmed that 81 radical were arrested.

Some organizations criticized the tactics used. Carolina Ricardo, enforcement manager astatine the information deliberation vessel Sou da Paz, called the result a tragedy. “This is simply a wholly failed approach, due to the fact that it does not really people the links successful the cause accumulation chain,” she said.

Raid comes days earlier large clime gatherings

The unit struck arsenic Rio prepares for planetary events focused connected clime action. Next week, the metropolis volition big the C40 planetary acme of mayors tackling clime alteration and Prince William’s Earthshot Prize ceremony. Celebrities, including popular prima Kylie Minogue and four-time Formula One satellite champion Sebastian Vettel, are scheduled to attend.

These gatherings pb into COP30, the United Nations clime acme successful Belem, successful the Amazon region, from November 10 to November 21.

Police operations up of large planetary events person go communal successful Rio. Large raids besides took spot earlier the 2016 Olympics, the 2024 G20 summit, and the BRICS acme successful July. Officials person not confirmed whether Tuesday’s deadly enactment was tied to the upcoming events.