A rally has taken place in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro to protest against violence in the Alemao favela complex. A ten-year-old boy was
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A rally has taken place in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro to protest against violence in the Alemao favela complex.
A ten-year-old boy was among four people who died within the space of 24 hours, in clashes between police and locals.
Eduardo de Jesus Ferreira was shot in the head as he played with a mobile phone in the entrance to his family home.
RT @jbarbassa: Protest over shooting death of 10-yr-old boy in Alemao complex. Photo via @msantoro1978 pic.twitter.com/g0kVq205An”
— Marcia Cunha (@Sucubus) April 3, 2015
The Pacifying Police Unit (UPP) says members of the Shock Battalion (BPCHoque) were on patrol in the area when local criminals shot at them.
Local residents accuse the Military Police of killing Ferreira.
The UPP started to work in the Alemao favela complex, in the north of Rio, in May 2012. They formed part of a new, 24-hour policing system in the community, with the aim of cracking down on drug trafficking locally.
In light of the recent violence, the state Secretary of Security has now allowed the Military Police to reoccupy the complex.