By late afternoon on Tuesday (24), 22 people had died after a police operation in the Penha region of Rio de Janeiro, according to the Getúlio Vargas state hospital. Another 7 people were injured.
According to the Military Police (PM), the Special Operations Battalion (BOPE), the Federal Police (PF) and the Federal Highway Police (PRF) carried out a joint action in the Vila Cruzeiro favela, in the North Zone of Rio.
The objective, according to the corporation, was to arrest criminal leaders hiding in the community, including people who came from other states, such as Amazonas, Alagoas and Pará.
The Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro (MP-RJ) and the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) established a Criminal Investigation Procedure to investigate the deaths. Bope’s command must send explanations about the operation within ten days,
The intervention began in the early hours of Tuesday (24) and, according to the PM, “bope and PRF teams were preparing for the incursion when criminals started firing firearms in the upper part of the community. ”.
At least 13 rifles, four pistols and 12 grenades were seized, in addition to drugs “to be accounted for”. In Vacaria, more than 20 motorcycles and cars used by fleeing criminals were seized, according to police.
The incidents were forwarded to the Capital Homicide Police Station.
According to information from the Municipal Secretary of Education of Rio de Janeiro (SME), as a result of the operation, 19 schools in the region had to be closed and provided remote service.
The SME was unable to inform how many students were harmed by the closing of these teaching units.
THE CNN also awaits a return from the State Department of Health.
*with information from Iuri Corsini and Camille Couto, from CNN
Source: CNN Brasil
