A police operation against drug traffickers took place today in the “Cidade de Deus” favela in Rio de Janeiro, which resulted in the death of six people.
The Rio Military Police reported that Business Objective was to prevent vehicle thefts and attempts at territorial expansion by the (criminal) group that is “responsible for most of the armed conflicts” in the region.
According to the same source, a group of armed men began shooting at police officers when they arrived in the area. “There was a confrontation and six men were found injured and taken to Lorenzo Jorge Hospital,” he added.
Rio’s municipal health department said the six unidentified men with gunshot wounds were “already dead” when they were taken to hospital.
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The police seized two rifles, four pistols, three radio transmitters and a large quantity of narcotics.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances under which the operation was carried out, noting that the officers were equipped with “body cameras” and the footage is available to investigators.
Rio’s Education Department said 12 schools were forced to close today for the safety of students during the operation.
The “City of God” is located in the west zone of Rio, close to the Olympic Park, and became known worldwide thanks to the film of the same name by Fernando Meirelles, shown in 2002. In February, in another case, the police killed seven people in several favelas in Rio.
Sources: AMPE, AFP