Deadliest Police Operation in Rio’s History Sparks Outrage and Human Rights Criticism
A police operation targeting gangs in Rio de Janeiro killed at least 64 people, sparking public outrage and condemnations over police lethality and human rights violations.
- • At least 64 people died in the October 28 police operation targeting Comando Vermelho in Penha and Alemão favelas.
- • The operation caused widespread fear, social media videos showed residents trapped in violent crossfire.
- • Defensoria Pública da União criticized the police for excessive use of force and called for adherence to human rights.
- • Governor Cláudio Castro defended the operation but admitted it may have exceeded limits and faced criticism for not requesting federal help.
Key details
On October 28, 2025, Rio de Janeiro witnessed its deadliest police operation ever, with at least 64 fatalities reported amid a large-scale crack down on the Comando Vermelho gang in the Penha and Alemão favelas. These communities, home to more than 110,000 residents, were plunged into chaos as armed groups used heavy weaponry and blocked streets, overwhelming the city’s security forces. Residents, frightened and trapped by the violence, shared harrowing videos on social media showing scenes of bloodshed and families confined indoors.
The operation, led by state police, aimed to curb the expanding influence of one of Brazil’s most dangerous criminal organizations. However, it resulted in massive bloodshed including the deaths of four police officers. Over 100 arrests were made, and authorities seized a substantial amount of weapons and ammunition. Despite the official count, local accounts suggest the number of fatalities may be even higher, with approximately 60 bodies reportedly discovered in a forested area within the Complexo da Penha.
The large loss of life has provoked widespread condemnation from civil society and human rights advocates. The Defensoria Pública da União (DPU) sharply criticized the excessive use of lethal force, emphasizing that security operations must uphold human rights and avoid summary executions or disappearances, especially in marginalized areas. The DPU highlighted the April decision by Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court which partially approved a plan to reduce police lethality, mandating that state security forces respect constitutional protections of life and dignity.
Governor Cláudio Castro, who has overseen three of the four deadliest police operations in Rio since 2007, defended the operation as judicially authorized and monitored by public prosecutors but conceded it may have overstepped legal limits. Castro expressed that the scale of criminal threats might require federal or military support, criticizing his administration’s limited capacity to combat such well-armed criminal groups. He also faced public backlash for not requesting federal assistance during the operation.
This deadly episode underscores the ongoing tensions in Rio between efforts to control violent gangs and the imperative to protect human rights, raising urgent questions about policing methods, state responsibility, and the future of public security in Brazil’s most troubled communities.