At least 25 people including a police officer have been killed in a shootout in Rio de Janeiro, according to local media.

The shootout took place during a police operation in a favela in the Jacarezinho area of the city.

Civil Police launched the operation after receiving reports that drug traffickers were recruiting children for their gang.

Two passengers on a metro train were hit by bullets but survived.

Civil Police in the city confirmed the death of one of their officers, police inspector Andre Leonardo de Mello Frias. A statement on Facebook said "he honoured the profession he loved and will be missed". .

According to local news, the gang targeted in this raid engages in drug trafficking, mugging, murders and kidnappings.

Rio de Janeiro is one of Brazil`s most violent states and vast areas are under the control of criminals, many of them linked to powerful drug-trafficking gangs.

Security forces in Brazil have often been accused of excessive use of force against the civilian population during anti-crime operations in major cities.