More than 130 killed: How did a Brazil raid on a Rio favela turn so deadly?

Brazil's Bloody Favela Raid: A 'Slaughter' Unfolds

A brutal police raid on a Rio favela has left 132 people dead, sparking widespread outrage and protests. The state police operation, aimed at dismantling one of Brazil's oldest crime syndicates, the Comando Vermelho (Red Command), turned deadly when gunfire broke out between police and gang members.

The initial death toll given by authorities was a staggering 58, including four police officers killed. However, the true figure has emerged as over 70 bodies were discovered on the streets of one favela, with many more reported missing. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed shock at the scale of the fatalities, saying he was "astonished" that the federal government had not been informed about or asked to cooperate in the operation beforehand.

Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as police stormed into the favelas on foot and in armored cars. The gang, notorious for its involvement in drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and extortion, had a stronghold on Rio de Janeiro's northern neighborhoods. The raid involved 2,500 police and soldiers, with many waiting in wooded areas to ambush suspected Red Command members.

Critics have long accused the Brazilian government of using excessive force against crime syndicates, with some pointing to past incidents where scores of people were killed or injured during police operations. The latest raid has reignited concerns about police brutality and impunity, particularly given the government's track record on law enforcement.

"This is a classic example of Brazil's inability to address its security crisis," said Rafael Soares, a crime journalist. "The succession of lethal operations that do not result in greater safety for the population but that in fact cause insecurity reveals the failure of the policies of Rio de Janeiro."

Humanitarian organizations have also weighed in on the tragedy, with Marta Hurtado from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights calling for Brazil to "break this cycle of extreme brutality and ensure that law enforcement operations comply with international standards regarding the use of force."

As protests against excessive police force continue to simmer, Governor Claudio Castro has refused to resign, despite widespread calls for his ouster. The government's response has been met with skepticism, with many accusing it of trying to cover up its role in the raid.

With Brazil's national elections just around the corner, this bloody incident is set to become a major issue. Nearly 50 percent of Brazilians believe security has deteriorated under President Lula's administration, according to a recent survey.

I'm soooo shocked by what happened in that favela raid . The numbers are just insane - over 132 people dead?! It's like something out of a horror movie . And the fact that police were waiting in wooded areas to ambush suspected gang members is just crazy . I mean, I know crime syndicates can be super violent, but come on, this is just excessive .

I'm also really frustrated that the government isn't taking responsibility for this mess . President Lula's administration is supposed to be all about improving security, and yet we see this kind of brutality going down . It's like they're not even trying to address the root causes of crime or work with communities to find solutions .

And don't even get me started on the lack of transparency . How could the government not have been informed about the raid beforehand? That's just unacceptable . It's like they're trying to sweep this under the rug .

This incident is going to be a major issue in the elections, and I'm not surprised . Brazilians are already skeptical of the government's handling of security issues, and this kind of violence just reinforces those doubts . We need real change, not just empty promises .

omg did u no brazil is goin thru a super rough time rn the stats r insane - 132 people dead, 70 bodies found on streets, and 4 cops killed the police raid was meant 2 take down a crime syndicate but it looks like they lost control and went rogue

i looked up some data on policing in brazil and it's wild according 2 the brazen system, there were 12,514 deaths involving law enforcement between 2018-2022 that's an average of 3,129 deaths per year...and most of those were from police brutality

i also checked out the UNHCR's stats on policing in brazil and it's a mess 75% of people in rio de janeiro believe that security has deteriorated under president lula's admin and nearly half think the gov is trying to cover up its role in the raid

and did u know that brazil's homicide rate increased by 22% between 2019-2022? it's like the country is goin straight into a crime spiral

Ugh, this is getting outta hand . 132 people dead? That's just insane. And the government's all like "we had no idea" about the operation beforehand? Come on, they've been aware of these gangs for years and still manage to botch it . The fact that they're now saying this is a classic example of Brazil's security crisis is just a bunch of PR spin . We all know what really goes down in those favelas - cops just trying to cover their own backsides and make a name for themselves .

And don't even get me started on the governor refusing to resign over this. Like, who doesn't see that as an obvious sign of incompetence? It's going to be a major issue in the elections, but I'm sure it'll just be swept under the rug and everyone will move on with their lives . Meanwhile, more innocent people are gonna die because of systemic failures and lack of accountability .

omg i was just thinking about that crazy storm that hit florida last week and how it totally destroyed that new rollercoaster at disneyworld I'm really gonna miss it lol anyway back to brazil... what's up with all these police raids? can't they just talk to the gangs instead of resorting to violence? i mean, my cousin's friend was in colombia for a second and he said everyone's always like "negociate with them" did they not learn that from the usa?

i heard those brazilian gangs are super powerful and have been around forever... it's like they're a whole different country or something i guess it makes sense though, if you've got that kind of power, you'd want to protect yourself. but still, 132 people dead? that's just insane

anyway, has anyone else seen those videos of the police storming into the favelas? it looks like something out of a movie

I'm so worried about what's going on in Rio . This police raid is just insane, all those people dead and many more missing... it's like something out of a movie. I've seen videos of the chaos, police storming into the favelas with guns blazing, it's just not right. And for what? To take down a crime syndicate that's been around for ages? It feels like they're just trying to get rid of anyone who doesn't fit in with their idea of order. I mean, I know crime is a big problem, but this isn't the answer.

I've seen some vids where people are saying that this is just another example of police brutality and impunity... and honestly, it's not surprising given what we've seen before. It feels like they're more worried about being seen as tough on crime than actually solving the problems. And now with elections coming up, I'm sure we'll see even more of this kind of thing trying to get attention.

132 people dead in one favela alone? That's insane! The stats are mind-blowing too - over 70 bodies on the streets and many more missing... it's like a scene from a horror movie . And to make matters worse, this isn't even the first time we've seen excessive force used by Brazilian authorities. Did you see the chart comparing police killings in Rio de Janeiro vs. other major cities? 73% of the victims were civilians!

According to the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, 75% of people believe that law enforcement operations are more focused on intimidating citizens than solving crimes . Meanwhile, Governor Castro is still in office despite widespread calls for his resignation? What does this say about accountability and transparency in Brazil?

The latest survey showing nearly 50% of Brazilians believe security has deteriorated under President Lula's administration? That's a huge concern. With national elections just around the corner, it's clear that this bloody incident will be a major issue on the campaign trail...

Here's a quick rundown of the situation:

* 132 people dead
* Over 70 bodies on the streets
* Many more missing
* 75% of victims were civilians
* Governor Castro refuses to resign despite calls for his ouster
* Nearly 50% of Brazilians believe security has deteriorated under President Lula's administration

man what's going on with brazil right now? the whole thing with that police raid in rio is just so messed up... i mean i get that they're trying to take down this crime syndicate but 132 people dead is insane... and yeah it's not like this is a new thing happening either, there have been plenty of incidents where cops have gone crazy before

and the government's response is just cringeworthy, president lula saying he was "astonished" that they didn't inform him beforehand? come on man, you're the head of state, it's your job to know what's going down in rio

and the more i read about this, the more i think it's not just a matter of excessive force or police brutality, it's like brazil's security crisis is just a big mess and no one knows how to fix it... and now with elections coming up, it's gonna be a major issue for lula's admin

I'm seriously worried about these police raids . It seems like they're more interested in killing people than solving problems . The number of deaths is crazy and it's not like the authorities are doing anything to stop these gangs, but just trying to cover their own tracks . I mean, what's the point of having 2,500 police and soldiers if you can't even use them safely? It's just a tragedy waiting to happen. The government needs to get its act together and figure out some better way to deal with crime, not just try to silence critics like Governor Castro .

man this brazil thing is getting outta hand the police raid was literally insane like they just came in there willy nilly and started shooting people left and right what kinda operation is that? i'm not surprised though, the government's track record on policing has been pretty sketchy for a while now. 132 dead is just mindblowing and those reports of people being missing are really disturbing

i mean, yeah the brazilian army is like a well-oiled machine or whatever but at what cost? it's all about the politicians trying to look tough and get re-elected before they're outta office you know? this whole thing just stinks of corruption and abuse of power. it's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out with the elections coming up, fingers crossed for a more peaceful resolution

this brazil police raid is straight outta horror movie the numbers are insane and so is the brutality involved. how many times do u gotta die b4 u get the message? it's like the gov & cops r more interested in showin off their guns than keepin the peace. Lula's in shock but that dont change the fact that his team got caught slippin & now its up to the people 2 demand real change. protests are just startin, lets see if they can bring some actual accountability 2 this situation

This is crazy! I mean, what can you even say? 132 people dead in one operation? It's like something out of a movie. The fact that the police didn't inform the government beforehand and just went ahead with the raid is wild. And now everyone's talking about police brutality and impunity... it's not like this is the first time it's happened, but still, it's shocking.

The way the gangs operate in these favelas is so violent already... you can't blame them for fighting back when they're just trying to survive. But at the same time, the police should be able to handle these situations without resorting to violence. It's all so messed up.

I'm loving how many people are speaking out about this now that it's all over the news. The UN is calling for Brazil to follow international standards on using force... that's like, basic human rights stuff right there. And Governor Castro refusing to resign? Like, what even is he doing?

This is definitely going to be a major issue in the upcoming elections. I mean, how can you expect to win an election when people are out here dying because of police brutality?

This is a total disaster ! The way those police officers treated innocent people in that favela is just unacceptable . I mean, come on, 132 people dead? That's just heartbreaking . I'm so sick of the government making excuses and trying to cover up their mistakes . It's like they're more concerned with saving face than actually fixing the problems .

The fact that President Lula wasn't even informed about the operation beforehand is just red flag . What kind of government can't keep its people in the loop? It's clear that there are some serious issues with police brutality and impunity in Brazil . We need real change, not just empty promises #JusticeForBrazil #PoliceAccountability #EndPoliceBrutality

omg this is so heartbreaking I'm literally shaking thinking about those 132 people who lost their lives in that favela raid it's like something out of a movie, you know? the whole thing just feels so... chaotic and violent . I mean, i get that crime syndicates need to be taken down, but does it have to be done with such brutal force? it's like they're trying to make a statement or something .

and can we talk about how the government is handling this situation? it seems like they're more concerned with covering their own backsides than actually addressing the problem. i mean, president lula saying he was "astonished" that the feds didn't know about it beforehand? lol what a joke . and governor claudio castro refusing to resign despite all the calls for him to step down? that's just classic .

anyway, this incident is definitely going to be a major issue in the upcoming elections. nearly 50% of brazilians think security has gotten worse under president lula's admin... yikes what does that say about their policies on law enforcement? and how are they planning to fix this mess? only time will tell, i guess .

U gotta be kiddin me ! How many times do these cops have to get caught in their own web of violence before they learn? 132 people dead? That's just straight up carnage . And for what? To take down some gang that's been operating in the favelas for years? It feels like a classic case of 'targeting the symptom, not the disease' .

And don't even get me started on the government's response . They're playin' dumb about it bein' a police operation gone wrong, but we all know that's just a cop-out . The fact that they didn't inform anyone beforehand is just another example of their lack of transparency and accountability .

It's time for some real change in Brazil . We need leaders who are gonna take on the tough issues, not sweep 'em under the rug . And as for Governor Castro... well, let's just say he's got some 'splainin' to do . The people won't forget about this one anytime soon

The situation with Brazil is just horrific . I think what really needs to change here is the communication between law enforcement and the government . It seems like there was no coordination or warning given beforehand about this massive operation, which led to so many innocent lives lost . It's like they just dove in without thinking about the consequences . We should be advocating for better training and procedures to avoid such disasters .

The fact that 2,500 police and soldiers were involved, and still, things went so wrong, is a huge red flag . And with all these reports of missing people, it's like there's some kind of cover-up going on . I'm not buying the government's "astonished" act . This needs to be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible need to face justice .

OMG this is like totally insane what happened in Brazil tho? 132 people dead?!?! it's soooo not okay they were just trying to take down the Comando Vermelho but the police overreacted and now everyone's paying the price

I mean, I know Brazil's got a big crime problem but this is like something out of a movie and it's all because of the police brutality thing that's been going on for ages

President Lula said he was "astonished" that his government wasn't informed beforehand which is pretty harsh on them but I feel him

I'm so down for some change in Brazil right now

this whole thing feels fishy to me... like there's more to it than just your average police raid gone wrong . all these people dead and the government is trying to cover up what really happened? and those 2,500 cops storming into favelas on foot and in armored cars? sounds like a recipe for disaster . what's next? are we gonna start seeing more of these "suddenly discovered" bodies? and don't even get me started on the governor refusing to resign... that just smells like corruption to me . i mean, have you seen the stats on security being worse under Lula's admin? it's like they're trying to distract us from something bigger .

this whole thing is super worrying , i mean 132 people dead is insane... the gov can't just sweep it under the rug and expect everything to be okay. they need to take responsibility for what happened and make sure it doesn't happen again.

i think lula's reaction was pretty standard - shocked that his gov didn't keep him in the loop beforehand, but what's gonna change now? he needs to use this as an opportunity to reform law enforcement and make sure police are held accountable for their actions.

and yeah, rafael soares is right, brazil's security crisis has been ongoing for ages... it's not just about one raid, it's about the systemic issues that lead to these situations. the gov needs to take a step back and think about how they can address this in a more sustainable way

Police brutality in Brazil is getting out of hand... what kinda op do they think is gonna take down the whole comandos vermelho gang with 2k5 cops?

anyway its not like we havent seen this before - scores of people dead & nothing changes. i feel bad for the innocent victims who got caught in the crossfire

i'm still waiting to see what the truth is behind these op - was it really a case of mistaken identity or just a massive overreaction?

its time for brazil to take a hard look at its law enforcement policies and figure out what's really going on...