A shootout between police officials and drug traffickers in the Jacarezinho locality in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro on Thursday led to the death of at least 25 people, including 24 suspect and a police official, AFP reported.

Reportedly, an operation was launched by the police, who had prior information about the gang recruiting minors into their ranks, leading the impoverished area to become a battlefield.

Citizens, reportedly, posted pictures of the showdown, which included explosions, gunfire and helicopters being used.

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Two passengers travelling on a metro train received bullet wounds, but survived during the massive operation that took place in the northern areas of Rio de Janeiro.

The gang, targeted in the operation, reportedly engages in drug trafficking and murders, among other criminal activities.

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The neighborhood is considered a base for the Comando Vermelho, or Red Command, the Brazilian beach city’s biggest drug gang.

As per Instituto Fogo Cruzado (the Crossfire Institute), a rights group operating in the area, the shootout between the two sides marked the biggest police operation to have occured in the area since they started monitoring the locality five years back.