At least 18 people massacred in Brazil slum after shoot-out with 400 armed cops and police helicopter

AT LEAST 18 people have been killed in a dramatic shootout between police and suspected gang members in a Rio de Janeiro favela after 400 officers stormed the slum. The hours-long shootout on Thursday, which saw drug dealers open fire on police helicopters, resulted in the death of 16 suspected gang members, a police officer and a local woman at the Complexo de Alemao. AP400 armed forces from Rio de Janeiro’s civil and military police raided the complex[/caption] APThe death toll reached 18 following mass shoot-outs[/caption] APPolice was supported by ten bulletproof vehicles and four helicopters[/caption] Tactical teams from Rio de Janeiro’s civil and military police’s sting operation targeted a gang involvement in cargo theft and bank robberies, a police spokesperson said during a news conference. Police was supported by ten bulletproof vehicles and four helicopters. Dramatic footage showing the helicopters coming under intense fire from the favela hilltops emerged on social media. At the site of the raid, Associated Press reporters reported seeing residents carrying about 10 bodies as bystanders screamed, “We want peace!” READ MORE IN WORLD NEWS GUILTY PLEASURE Moment American football star adds MAYO into coffee & people are horrified 'TOO HEALTHY' Hopes Putin is dying dashed after CIA chief says he appears to be healthy Residents waved white clothing and sheets in a signal to surrender but the massacre did not stop. “It’s a massacre inside, which police are calling an operation,” a woman told The Associated Press. “They’re not letting us help [victims],” the lady said, adding that she had seen a man arrested for trying to give assistance. Gang members have reportedly set up barricades with burning debris in some areas of the Complexo de Alemao – a complex of 13 favelas in northern Rio, home to about 70,000 people. Law enforcement authorities supported the raid, saying that police teams had been “violently attacked” with “military and guerrilla” tactics. The authorities alleged the criminals had used local civilians as human shields during the operation. Most read in News CRACKING THE CASE How Tamara Ecclestone case was solved after thieves ransacked £70m home PIC RAGE Moment pubgoer is caught taking picture of woman's bum before angry mob wade in TRUSS ME Liz Truss handed boost in bid to be next PM as she beats Rishi in first major poll WHAT THE HECK Teen busker with incredible voice reduced to tears after heckler's brutal dig SICK JOE Biden, 79, tests positive for Covid one day after after saying he has cancer BOOZE YOU LOSE Majorca holiday shock for Brits as bars face CLOSURE this summer Ronaldo Oliveira, an investigator with Rio’s police force, said officials would have preferred to make arrests of suspected gang members, but were left with no choice as they “unfortunately […] chose to fire at our policemen.” This is the latest fatal police operation in a Rio de Janeiro favela In May last year, 28 people were killed in a similar raid in Rio’s Jacarerinho favela. Thursday’s heavy death toll has sparked renewed complaints of excessive police violence. This comes just months after Brazil’s Supreme Court established a series of conditions for police to handle crime as a means to reduce police killings and violations of human rights, following the Jacarerinho massacre. Read More on The Sun TEACHER'S PET Primary school teachers reveal the end of term gifts they hate FLIGHT CHAOS Holidaymakers WON'T get compensation for flights cancelled in the heatwave Recommendations include the way in which police conducts raids in Rio’s favelas, with the court ordering that lethal force be used only in situations of self-defense and defense of others. Nearly three-quarters of the Complexo de Alemao residents are Black or biracial, according to a July 2020 study published by the Brazilian Institute of Social and Economical Analyses. EPAPolice forces were supported by 10 bulletproof vehicles and four helicopters[/caption] APVictims were carried out by local residents[/caption] AP16 suspected gang members were killed[/caption] APThe heavy death toll has prompted renewed complaints about the police’s tactics[/caption]