Families cluster at Rio morgue looking for answers after deadly police raids

Families gathered at a morgue in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday to identify loved ones killed in what has become Brazil’s deadliest police operation, while funerals were held for four officers who died during the raids.

Authorities confirmed that at least 121 people, including the officers, were killed in Tuesday’s assault on the Comando Vermelho gang, which dominates the drug trade in several of the city’s favelas, densely populated hillside neighbourhoods.

Many of the victims’ bodies were recovered by residents from a wooded area near the Penha favela on Tuesday night.

By Thursday morning, over 100 corpses were still awaiting autopsies or identification as distraught relatives waited outside the morgue for news.

Locals reported finding bodies showing signs of torture, prompting protests and political backlash in a country where police were responsible for more than 6,000 killings last year, according to official data.

Rio’s state security chief, Victor Santos, said any alleged misconduct “will be investigated,” though he added he believed none had occurred.

Governor Claudio Castro praised the operation as a success, calling the slain officers the “only real victims” and insisting that those killed were all criminals. He later met with several right-wing governors who travelled to Rio to show their support.

OUTRAGE AND CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY

Left-wing lawmakers, led by Congresswoman Talíria Petrone, visited Penha to meet residents and condemned what she described as “yet another massacre in the favelas,” demanding “truth, justice, and accountability” for alleged human rights violations.

The United Nations expressed concern over the high death toll and called for a thorough investigation.

Santos denied any link between the raids and upcoming global events in Rio, including the C40 mayors’ summit and ceremonies tied to the UN’s COP30 climate talks, which will feature Prince William’s Earthshot Prize.

Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski said the federal government had not been informed in advance about the operation. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva urged coordinated efforts against organised crime that protect both police and civilians.

On Thursday, Lula signed a new law strengthening protections for public officials fighting organised crime, declaring that Brazil “will not tolerate criminal organisations” and is determined to confront them “with ever greater vigour.”

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