14 Dead in Rio de Janerio Crossfire

A crossfire between police and drug traffickers left at least 14 people dead yesterday in Rio, including a 14-year-old girl who was reportedly shot through the chest. 

The deaths came during a series of major police assaults on the city’s slums, including one that serves as the HQ of the city’s largest drug gang. 

Prompted by a flurry planned assaults on police, the incursions began on Tuesday involving hundreds of heavily armed police operatives, armored cars and helicopters. 

17, 500 officers arrested around 150 people during the raids.  22 people have been killed since Sunday, according to Rio’s military police.  Two policemen and an 81-year-old man were injured.  An estimated 17, 000 children were unable to attend classes as a result of the sweeps.