Police Use of Stun Grenade in São Paulo's Cracolândia Sparks Outrage and Investigation

São Paulo, Brazil – May 29, 2025 – A video released by Profissão Repórter has sparked outrage and calls for investigation after showing Military Police deploying a stun grenade on a group of individuals in Cracolândia, a neighborhood known for its drug use. The video shows the police vehicle approaching a group of people sitting on the sidewalk and launching the grenade without any apparent prior warning. The resulting explosion causes the people to scatter. One resident, interviewed in the video, described the situation as a common occurrence. "They throw bombs, assault us—that's how it is," he stated. "We were sitting. They only threw bombs because you're here. When you're not, they use rubber bullets, they brutalize us, they beat us with batons." A sergeant from the Military Police later explained that the action was taken due to past resistance from the same group when attempts were made to clear the street. However, he also stated that the use of non-lethal munitions is documented and subject to investigation. The Military Police have confirmed that they are reviewing the video footage.