Rio police find clandestine grave with at least 12 bodies

Police in Rio de Janeiro have found a clandestine grave with at least 12 bodies in a metropolitan part of the city where militia groups operate.

The grave was discovered Friday in Itaboraí about 25 miles from Rio and authorities believe the cemetery could be used by a paramilitary group that was targeted this week in a raid that led to 43 arrests.

By Friday evening authorities had found 12 bodies. The identities of the bodies are still unknown.

The Rio state prosecutor’s office asked relatives of militia victims to inform police of possible disappearances to help determine who was buried in the cemetery.

Police say the militia operating in the area is believed to have carried out torture, extortion and some 50 murders since the beginning of last year.