Police raid in Rio de Janeiro ends with at least three dead

Unconfirmed reports suggested the death toll could rise significantly

At least three people died on Thursday during a major police raid in a dense warren of Rio de Janeiro slums, state military police said, in the latest bloody confrontation in Brazil's second-largest city, Qazet.az reports.

Tactical teams from Rio de Janeiro's civil and military police raided the Alemao complex to take down an alleged criminal organization suspected of involvement in cargo theft and bank robberies which was planning incursions into rival slums, the military police said in a statement.

It said around 400 officers were involved, with support from four aircraft and 10 armored vehicles. At least three people died, it said: one police officer, and two alleged criminals. A woman was also injured.