STORY: At least 60 people died, including four police officers, in an operation against organized crime in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday (October 28), said a source from the Rio state government.

Authorities said the fatalities that were not police officers were suspected of connections to drug trafficking.

Rio will next week host the C40 summit of global mayors and Prince William's Earthshot Prize, which will feature celebrities including pop star Kylie Minogue and four-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Both are part of the run-up to COP30, the United Nations climate summit taking place in Belem, northern Brazil, from November 10 to November 21.

Large-scale police operations are not uncommon ahead of major international events in Rio, which hosted matches of the 2014 World Cup, the 2016 Olympics, the 2024 G20 summit, and the BRICS summit earlier this year.

The state government described Tuesday's operation as the largest ever targeting the Comando Vermelho gang. At least 56 people have been arrested as authorities sought to serve 250 arrest and search warrants, the government added.

Around 50 health and education facilities had their routines disrupted by the clashes, and bus routes had to be changed to avoid the gunfire.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: POLICE OPERATION AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING AT THE FAVELA DO PENHA IN RIO DE JANEIRO / DETAINEES IN POLICE CUSTODY / PHOTOS OF THE OPERATION / SOUNDBITES FROM RIO DE JANEIRO GOVERNOR

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE STORY

SHOWS: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (OCTOBER 28, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. ARMED POLICE OFFICERS DURING OPERATION

2. VEHICLE BURNED / ARMOURED VEHICLE ON STREET

3. ARMED POLICE PATROLLING STREET

4. VARIOUS OF DETAINEES IN POLICE CUSTODY

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) RIO DE JANEIRO GOVERNOR, CLAUDIO CASTRO, SAYING:

"So far, we have arrested 56 criminals. To date, 18 criminals have been neutralized, 31 rifles seized, and a large quantity of drugs confiscated, which cannot yet be assessed because they are still in the midst of combat."

6. POLICE ON VEHICLE PATROLLING STREET

7. ARMED POLICE PATROLLING STREET

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) RIO DE JANEIRO GOVERNOR, CLAUDIO CASTRO, SAYING:

"It's a larger operation than in 2010, and, unfortunately, this time —as throughout this entire term —we don't have the support of armoured vehicles or federal security and defence forces. We are alone in this fight today and we are carrying out the largest operation in history.”

9. DETAINEES IN POLICE CUSTODY

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) RIO DE JANEIRO GOVERNOR, CLAUDIO CASTRO, SAYING:

"The deaths have also affected our police force. We have cases of police officers who have sadly been killed and others who are already receiving treatment."

11. POLICE GUARDING BODY INSIDE VEHICLE

12. POLICE OFFICERS OUTSIDE HOSPITAL

13. RELATIVES WAITING OUTSIDE HOSPITAL

14. WOMAN CRYING OUTSIDE HOSPITAL

15. RELATIVES WAITING OUTSIDE HOSPITAL

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (OCTOBER 28, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

16. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF BODY ON STRETCHER

17. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF POLICE GUARDING BODY INSIDE VEHICLE

18. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF DETAINED PERSON IN POLICE CUSTODY

19. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF MEN ON MOTORCYCLES RAISING THEIR HANDS

20. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF POLICE OFFICER WALKING WITH A MONKEY ON HIS HEAD DURING POLICE OPERATION