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Suspicion Falls on the Police After Dozens of Execution-Style Killings in Brazil Suspicion Falls on the Police After Dozens of Execution-Style Killings in Brazil
(34 minutes later)
RIO DE JANEIRO — A spree of killings which has left at least 35 people dead in Manaus, the largest city in the Brazilian Amazon, is raising suspicions that police officers may have organized a death squad to carry out a wave of execution-style killings in retaliation for the recent fatal shooting of a police officer, security officials said.RIO DE JANEIRO — A spree of killings which has left at least 35 people dead in Manaus, the largest city in the Brazilian Amazon, is raising suspicions that police officers may have organized a death squad to carry out a wave of execution-style killings in retaliation for the recent fatal shooting of a police officer, security officials said.
The dozens of killings, which took place from Friday night to the early hours of Monday, point to escalating violence in Manaus, a city of 2 million that has emerged as a deadly hub for the South American drug trade with trafficking organizations battling for control of smuggling routes in the Amazon rain forest, often with the help of corrupt police officers.The dozens of killings, which took place from Friday night to the early hours of Monday, point to escalating violence in Manaus, a city of 2 million that has emerged as a deadly hub for the South American drug trade with trafficking organizations battling for control of smuggling routes in the Amazon rain forest, often with the help of corrupt police officers.
The authorities in Manaus emphasized on Monday that they had not yet identified those responsible for the killing spree. But they acknowledged that many of the fatal shootings were efficiently carried out by gunmen wearing balaclavas and using ammunition normally available only to police officers.The authorities in Manaus emphasized on Monday that they had not yet identified those responsible for the killing spree. But they acknowledged that many of the fatal shootings were efficiently carried out by gunmen wearing balaclavas and using ammunition normally available only to police officers.
“We can’t discard any hypothesis,” Sérgio Fontes, the top security official in Amazonas, the vast state encompassing Manaus, said in a statement, pointing to the “orchestrated” aspect of many of the killings.“We can’t discard any hypothesis,” Sérgio Fontes, the top security official in Amazonas, the vast state encompassing Manaus, said in a statement, pointing to the “orchestrated” aspect of many of the killings.
The spree was put into motion in Manaus after Afonso Camacho Dias, a police sergeant, was fatally shot on Friday while leaving a bank branch. The assailants who killed Sergeant Camacho Dias, 44, stole the equivalent of about $20,000 in cash that he had withdrawn at the bank, before escaping, according to news reports. It was not clear why he had that much cash.The spree was put into motion in Manaus after Afonso Camacho Dias, a police sergeant, was fatally shot on Friday while leaving a bank branch. The assailants who killed Sergeant Camacho Dias, 44, stole the equivalent of about $20,000 in cash that he had withdrawn at the bank, before escaping, according to news reports. It was not clear why he had that much cash.
The possibility that police officers could be illegally hunting down the assailants or anyone connected to them raises fears over a rise in killings in Manaus by the police. Such episodes rank among the most widespread human rights abuses in Brazil, with at least 2,212 killings by the police in 2013.The possibility that police officers could be illegally hunting down the assailants or anyone connected to them raises fears over a rise in killings in Manaus by the police. Such episodes rank among the most widespread human rights abuses in Brazil, with at least 2,212 killings by the police in 2013.
The actual number of such killings around Brazil is thought to be substantially higher because some states do not report them. In Belém, another city in the Brazilian Amazon, investigators found that police recently colluded in a string of revenge killings which left 10 boys and young men dead last November, following the murder of a police corporal. The actual number of such killings around Brazil is thought to be substantially higher because some states do not report them. In Belém, another city in the Brazilian Amazon, investigators found that the police recently colluded in a string of revenge killings that left 10 boys and young men dead last November, following the murder of a police corporal.
The authorities in Manaus also raised the possibility that drug gangs could have had a hand in the bloodshed.The authorities in Manaus also raised the possibility that drug gangs could have had a hand in the bloodshed.
Two prison-based gangs, Familia do Norte (Family of the North) and First Capital Command, have been fighting for supremacy in Manaus’ cocaine trade; officials said a faction of Familia do Norte had also been jockeying for power.Two prison-based gangs, Familia do Norte (Family of the North) and First Capital Command, have been fighting for supremacy in Manaus’ cocaine trade; officials said a faction of Familia do Norte had also been jockeying for power.
Still, Fábio Monteiro, the prosecutor general for Amazonas State, said that evidence pointed to the involvement of a well-organized extermination squad in the killings, casting suspicion on members of the police force in Manaus.Still, Fábio Monteiro, the prosecutor general for Amazonas State, said that evidence pointed to the involvement of a well-organized extermination squad in the killings, casting suspicion on members of the police force in Manaus.
“The agile modus operandi, involving arriving at the scene, making the kill and getting out, is typical of someone who knows what they’re doing,” Mr. Monteiro, who is examining the killing spree, told G1, a news website.“The agile modus operandi, involving arriving at the scene, making the kill and getting out, is typical of someone who knows what they’re doing,” Mr. Monteiro, who is examining the killing spree, told G1, a news website.
“Amateurs did not do this.”“Amateurs did not do this.”