May Allah have mercy - many killed in heavy police raids in Rio
Assalamu alaikum. I’m sharing this with a heavy heart. Local officials say at least 119 people died after intense police raids in Rio de Janeiro that targeted a powerful criminal group. Earlier reports put the toll much lower, and a state public defender’s office gave an even higher figure, so the exact number is still unclear.
Authorities say 115 of those killed were suspected gang members and four were police officers. The security chief for the state called the high number of deaths something that was expected but not desired. The raids involved roughly 2,500 officers and used armoured vehicles, helicopters and drones, concentrating on the Penha and Alemão neighbourhoods in northern Rio.
Many residents say the operation felt like a massacre. Mourners gathered where bodies were laid, and some people accuse police of summary executions, saying victims were shot at close range or in the back. One local activist said this can’t be called public safety. The state governor insisted those killed were criminals and claimed the clashes happened in wooded areas where civilians would not normally be.
International figures have expressed concern. The UN secretary-general’s office urged authorities to make sure any use of force follows human rights standards and called for a prompt investigation. Brazil’s justice minister said the president was horrified by the scale of the fatalities and surprised such an operation proceeded without federal knowledge.
These kinds of raids in Rio’s favelas sadly happen often and can be deadly. Rights groups also question the timing of large operations like this. Officials say this raid was not linked to upcoming international events in the city. Please keep the victims, their families, and all affected people in your du’as. May Allah grant patience to the bereaved and guide those in authority to justice and mercy.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news