Brazil's President Calls for Investigation After 121 Killed in Police Operation Against Gang: 'It Was a Massacre'
In a stark statement, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has labeled a recent police operation against a powerful criminal faction in Rio as a 'massacre', leaving 121 people dead. The operation, which involved thousands of officers battling heavily armed gang members, has sparked intense debate and calls for investigation.
During an interview in the Amazon city of Belem, Lula emphasized the need to verify the conditions under which the operation took place. The police raid, which occurred last week, was a response to the Red Command drug trafficking gang's aggressive tactics in Rio. The gang had been reclaiming territory, employing drones to drop explosives on police, and engaging in fierce clashes with elite security forces.
The aftermath of the operation revealed harrowing scenes, with residents returning with the mutilated bodies of those who had died. One photographer described the scene as bodies 'kept coming: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45', including those of police officers. Some bodies were decapitated, while others were 'totally disfigured' and showed signs of stab wounds.
The battle exposed the chronic security woes of Rio de Janeiro, highlighting the divisions in addressing crime. While rights activists denounced the brutal scenes, surveys indicated that many crime-weary citizens supported the operation. The police identified 99 'criminals' among the dead, with 42 having arrest warrants and 78 with extensive criminal records.
Amid criticism of his administration's leniency on crime, Lula proposed a bill to parliament, suggesting a minimum 30-year prison sentence for gang members. The operation's aftermath has sparked a national conversation, with questions about the effectiveness of such aggressive tactics and the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing Brazil's complex security challenges.
