Loss of life toll from Rio de Janeiro police raid rises to 121

[ad_1] RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The loss of life toll in an enormous police raid focusing on a drug trafficking gang in Rio de Janeiro rose to at the very least 121 folks, authorities mentioned Thursday.

An operation launched Tuesday in two of town’s favelas sparked intense gunbattles that left at the very least 4 law enforcement officials lifeless and an unknown variety of folks wounded.

Officers raised the loss of life toll from 119 to 121, however additional particulars on the 2 new deaths weren’t instantly accessible.

Brazil’s public defender’s workplace filed a request Thursday with the Supreme Court docket requesting entry to the forensic proof in regards to the police victims. The workplace studies 130 deaths within the raid, greater than the official police numbers.

“The our bodies of those folks will inform us what actually occurred, and for that, we want entry to them,” mentioned Rafaela Garcez, a public defender main the investigation unit.

Human rights organizations have referred to as for investigations into the deaths, describing the operation as some of the violent in Brazil’s current historical past.

Police mentioned that the raid adopted a yearlong investigation into the Pink Command legal gang, which controls drug trafficking and different illicit actions within the low-income communities of Complexo do Alemao and Penha. The group originated in Rio’s jail system and has expanded its affect in recent times.

Through the operation, officers arrested 113 folks, seized 118 weapons and confiscated greater than a ton of medicine, police mentioned.

The violence disrupted each day life within the affected neighborhoods. Colleges closed, an area college canceled lessons, and buses have been used to dam roads.

Rio has lengthy been the scene of lethal police raids. In March 2005, 29 folks have been killed within the Baixada Fluminense area, which borders Rio. In Could 2021, 28 died in a raid within the Jacarezinho favela .

Nonetheless, the size of Tuesday’s operation was unprecedented. The motion sparked protests and accusations of extreme pressure and requires the resignation of Rio’s governor.

On Thursday morning, group leaders in Penha gathered on the headquarters of favela rights group CUFA to arrange authorized assist for grieving households. Many retailers remained closed, and the environment was somber.

Political response The police operation stirred nationwide political debate. Rio de Janeiro Gov. Cláudio Castro initially accused the federal authorities of failing to supply help.

Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski responded by saying he hadn’t obtained any request for assist. He additionally defended the approval of a invoice stalled in Congress that will combine state police intelligence programs nationwide, a measure analysts see as a powerful response to organized crime.

Castro is affiliated to the identical get together as former President Jair Bolsonaro and is a part of the opposition to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Lula’s opponents sought to hyperlink his authorities to the raid. Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, certainly one of Jair Bolsonaro’s sons, posted a video claiming that Lula had deserted Rio de Janeiro.

The federal government despatched representatives to the state on Wednesday and introduced the creation of an emergency workplace to fight organized crime in Rio de Janeiro.

On Thursday morning, Lula signed a regulation that the federal government mentioned strengthens the combat in opposition to organized crime. The brand new regulation criminalizes conspiracy and obstruction of actions in opposition to legal teams and will increase safety for public officers and their households, together with retirees, so long as they're in danger due to their skilled duties.

Senate President Davi Alcolumbre additionally introduced Thursday morning {that a} Senate committee will start investigating the construction, enlargement and operations of organized crime in Brazil beginning subsequent week.

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Gabriela Sá Pessoa reported from Sao Paulo.

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Observe AP’s Latin America protection at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

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