💥 Scenes of urban war

What began as a raid in two of Rio de Janeiro’s most densely populated neighborhoods on Tuesday ended as one of the bloodiest police operations in Brazil’s history. At least 64 people were killed — including four members of law enforcement — but reports suggest a much higher human toll. 

Police forces stormed the Alemão and Penha favela chains — sprawling 26 communities that together house more than 160,000 people. The 60 civilians confirmed dead were all labeled as suspects by the police. But for many families and social organizations, those numbers hide what they believe were summary executions of many innocent people.

Local officials called the operation an effort to reclaim territory from the state’s most powerful criminal faction, the Comando Vermelho (“Red Command,” or CV). 

The city’s streets, however, told a different story…

Don’t miss out! Upgrade to unlock full access. The process takes only seconds with Apple Pay or Stripe. Become a member.

We’re here for readers who want to truly understand Brazil and Latin America — a region too often ignored or misrepresented by the international media.

Since 2017, our reporting has been powered by paid subscribers. They’re the reason we can keep a full-time team of journalists across Brazil and Argentina, delivering sharp, independent coverage every day.

If you value our work, subscribing is the best way to keep it going — and growing.