200 Tourists Trapped on Rio Mountaintop as Police Hunt for Gang Leader [WATCH]

Around 200 tourists were temporarily trapped on a popular mountain in Rio de Janeiro after a shootout broke out between police and suspected gang members early Monday, according to local media reports.

The incident unfolded at Morro Dois Irmãos, a well-known overlook above Ipanema Beach, where visitors had gathered to watch the sunrise. Authorities said police were attempting to apprehend members of the Comando Vermelho, also known as the “Red Command,” when gunfire erupted from a nearby hillside community below the tourist site.

As the operation intensified, officials shut down access to the trail leading up and down the mountain, leaving hundreds of visitors stranded for approximately two hours while the situation played out.

Police gunfight with favela gang traps 200 tourists on hilltop https://t.co/IwZpVf6YBA

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) April 20, 2026

Witnesses described confusion and fear as shots rang out from below. Matilda Oliveiro, a tourist from Portugal, said she and her sister had been waiting for the sunrise when their guides reacted to the situation.

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“We had waited for sunrise and, suddenly, the guides asked us to sit down, and we started hearing gunshots,” she told Globo.

Another witness, Estefânia Andrade, a civil engineer, said the group could not determine where the gunfire was coming from.

“There was a lot of shooting, and I didn’t know where it was coming from, if it was going to hit us, if it was close, we really didn’t know. We didn’t know where it was coming from,” Andrade told the outlet in Portuguese.

Authorities said tourists were allowed to leave the mountain once the situation stabilized. No injuries among the visitors were immediately reported.

NEW: 200 tourists trapped on Morro Dois Irmãos in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after police reportedly got into a firefight with Comando Vermelho.

Comando Vermelho is a Brazilian criminal organization engaged in drug trafficking.Morro Dois Irmãos is a popular tourist spot where… pic.twitter.com/tjWXp4LWc4— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 20, 2026

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The police operation involved officers from both the city of Rio de Janeiro and the state of Bahia. Their target was Ednaldo Perenier Souza, also known as “Dada,” an alleged drug kingpin believed to be in the city at the time.

Officials said Souza had been attending a house party when police moved in. He reportedly escaped through a concealed passage before officers reached him. Despite his escape, authorities said three individuals believed to be his associates were taken into custody during the raid.

The Morro Dois Irmãos area is a frequent destination for tourists seeking panoramic views of Rio’s coastline, particularly at sunrise. Monday’s incident temporarily disrupted access to the site and raised concerns about safety in areas near active police operations.

Authorities have not announced whether additional arrests are expected in connection with the operation or if Souza remains in the area.

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