Rio de Janeiro: UN calls for probe into deadliest police raid

The United Nations is amongst some of the organisations that have called for a probe into one of the deadliest police raids that took place on Thursday, 6 May in Rio de Janeiro.

A police raid in Jacarezinho, one of largest slums known as favelas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil led to the death of 28 people including a police officer. The raid was carried out by about 200 heavily armed police officers and included an armoured helicopter with a sniper. 

WATCH: DEADLY SHOOTOUT IN RIO DE JANEIRO

A television helicopter which filmed men jumping from rooftops trying to hide from the police has emerged. Residents on the other hand shared videos on social media showing intense shootouts as they claimed police had invaded their houses and used excessive violence.

Jacarezinho is dominated by Comando Vermelho, or Red Command, one of Brazil’s largest criminal organisations.

A drug raid conducted by #police at the #Jacarezinho favela in #Rio de Janeiro, #Brazil left 25 people dead Thursday.

Rights groups have condemned the violence, as police defended their actions in one of the deadliest operations the city has ever seen.@yenatweet reports pic.twitter.com/wpQePENA0O

— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) May 7, 2021

UN CALLS FOR PROBE INTO POLICE AND CRIMINAL SHOOTOUT

United Nations rights office spokesman Rupert Colville told reporters in Geneva his office was “deeply disturbed” by the killings, and called for prosecutors to open an “independent, thorough and impartial investigation.”

“We remind the Brazilian authorities that the use of force should be applied only when strictly necessary. Lethal force should be used as a last resort,” he said.

Director General, Special Police Forces, Felipe Curi said that the only execution was of a police officer who was coldly executed by the drug traffickers. “The other deaths unfortunately happened while the traffickers were targeting police and they were then neutralised.”

In a statement on its Facebook page, the city’s Civil Police said it was “with extreme regret”, that police inspector Andre Leonardo de Mello had been killed “during the operation to combat organised crime in the community of Jacarezinho”

“Unfortunately, the war scenario imposed by these gangs demonstrates the importance of operations so that criminal organisations do not strengthen themselves. The action was based on concrete intelligence and investigation information. On occasion, criminals reacted strongly. Not just to run away but to kill.”

Rio de Janeiro Civil Police

The raid happened despite a ruling by Brazil’s Supreme Court in June 2020 that restricted police action in poor areas of Rio during the pandemic unless it was deemed essential.

READ: Rio de Janeiro: Deadly police raid leaves 25 people dead