The events of October 28 in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro shocked not only the country, but the whole world. The bloodiest police operation in the city's history took place, reports nytimes.com. According to official data, the operation was directed against a criminal group known as the "Red Command."
The Rio state government called this raid the largest security operation in history. According to preliminary data, 64 people died on the first day alone, including 4 police officers. However, by October 30, the death toll had doubled, reaching 132. At the same time, the exact calculation has not yet been disclosed - which raised serious questions among the public.
According to local publications, there may have been civilians among the deceased. The New York Times, citing local witnesses, reported that many bodies were laid out in an empty area on the outskirts of Rio. Most of them were naked - it is assumed that this was done to facilitate the identification of relatives. Later, dozens more bodies were found in the nearby forest area.
How the operation went, whether there were innocent people among the victims, and who is responsible for this situation remain unresolved. On Wednesday, one of the officials admitted that "the main goal - the capture of the gang leader - was not achieved."
The beginning of the tragedy is deeply etched in the memories of the local population. According to witnesses, everything began around 3:30 a.m. on October 28 after the barking of dogs. Soon after, the internet and electricity were cut off, and before dawn, gunshots were heard.
More than 2,500 police officers were brought into the area, moving in armored vehicles and searching for members of the "Red Command" group involved in drug trafficking. Two police helicopters were flying in the air.
Although Rio had become quite accustomed to the confrontation between crime and the police, this time the scale of the incident and the number of victims shocked the citizens. Many called it the biggest tragedy in the city.
Rio's authorities have been taking harsh measures against criminal organizations in recent years. State Governor Claudio Castro assessed the raid as a success - according to official data, 113 people were arrested, 118 weapons and almost a ton of drugs were seized.
However, there are other opinions among the public. Many citizens consider this practice "not justice, but a crime." They are dissatisfied with the police's level of violence and indifference to human life.
This incident in Rio serves as a signal not only for Brazil but for all of Latin America - it's time to seriously consider the policy of state security systems using force and its consequences.
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