At least 18 people were killed during a major police raid in a dense warren of Rio de Janeiro slums on Thursday

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 21 – At least 18 people were killed during a major police raid in a dense warren of Rio de Janeiro slums on Thursday, according to state military police, in the latest bloody clash in Brazil's second-largest city.

Rio de Janeiro's civil and military police raided the Alemao complex to apprehend an alleged criminal organisation. According to military police, the group was planning incursions into rival slums and was suspected of cargo theft and bank robberies.

According to police, at least 18 people were killed in the raid, including one officer, 16 alleged criminals, and a female bystander. Around 400 officers, four aircraft, and ten armoured vehicles were involved in the operation.