World News for Students of English

31-10-2025 15:00

A police raid in Rio de Janeiro targeting the Red Command drug gang left at least 64 people dead, including four police officers.

The large-scale operation took place in the poor areas of Complexo do Alemão and Penha, involving helicopters, armored vehicles, and hundreds of officers. Authorities said 81 suspects were arrested and large amounts of drugs and weapons were seized. Rio’s governor described the operation as the biggest in the city’s history. However, human rights organizations and the UN condemned the violence, calling for investigations into possible abuses. Critics said such raids are often inefficient, as they target low-level members rather than gang leaders.

The clashes caused chaos in Rio, with buses burned and schools closed. Experts described the death toll as war numbers, showing how violent Brazil’s drug conflict has become.

Difficult words: large-scale (very big in size or involving many people or things), condemn (to say strongly that something is bad or wrong), death toll (the number of people who die in an event, like a war or accident).

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