Over 40 Bodies Found After Deadly Police Raid in Rio’s Penha Favela

More than 40 bodies were discovered on a street in Rio de Janeiro’s Penha favela complex early Wednesday, following what has been described as the most lethal police operation in the city’s history. The raid, carried out on Tuesday, targeted a major criminal gang and left at least 64 people dead, including four police officers, according to Rio de Janeiro state authorities. Officials said an updated death toll is expected later in the day.

Residents reportedly brought the bodies to the streets after searching for missing relatives in the aftermath of the intense clashes. Witnesses described scenes of chaos and grief as families gathered to identify loved ones among the victims. Authorities have not yet provided full details on the number of civilians and suspected gang members killed during the raid.

The large-scale operation comes just days before Rio is set to host several global events linked to the upcoming United Nations COP30 climate summit, including the C40 mayors’ meeting on climate action and Prince William’s Earthshot Prize. Police in Rio have previously carried out heavy crackdowns on gangs ahead of international events such as the 2016 Olympics, the 2024 G20 summit, and the BRICS summit held earlier this year.

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