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Brazil police break up illegal abortion ring, arrest 47 Brazil police break up illegal abortion ring, arrest 47
(about 3 hours later)
Police in Brazil have broken up an illegal abortion network operating in Rio de Janeiro and nearby suburbs. Police in Brazil have broken up an illegal abortion network operating in the Rio de Janeiro area.
Forty-seven people were arrested as part of Operation Herod, which followed the recent deaths of two Brazilian women who had illegal abortions. Forty-seven people were arrested as part of Operation Herod, which followed the deaths of two Brazilian women who had illegal abortions.
Police have arrested suspected leader, Dr Aloisio Soares Guimaraes and issued a further 28 arrest warrants.Police have arrested suspected leader, Dr Aloisio Soares Guimaraes and issued a further 28 arrest warrants.
Abortion is only legal in Brazil in cases of rape, brain abnormalities or if the mother's life is at risk.Abortion is only legal in Brazil in cases of rape, brain abnormalities or if the mother's life is at risk.
About 2,000 women are believed to have used the abortion clinics, paying up to 7,500 reais ($3,100;£2,000) for the procedure.About 2,000 women are believed to have used the abortion clinics, paying up to 7,500 reais ($3,100;£2,000) for the procedure.
Police said the abortions were performed in "unsanitary places and without any hygienic conditions, putting the physical integrity and health of the patients at risk". The countries of predominantly Roman Catholic Latin America have some of the toughest anti-abortion laws in the world.
Fake doctor Human rights groups and medical associations in Brazil have called for abortions to be legalised in more cases than the law currently allows.
The investigation lasted 15 months before arrests were made on Tuesday. Those detained include four civil police officers, two military police officers, three doctors and a firefighter. A 2010 survey suggests as many as one in five Brazilian women has had an abortion before the age of 40.
Arrest warrants have been issued for eight civil and four military police officers, 10 doctors, a fake doctor and three lawyers among others. Facing prison
Police have also issued 118 search warrants. Police said the illegal abortions were performed in "unsanitary places (...) putting the physical integrity and health of the patients at risk".
The investigation lasted 15 months before arrests were made on Tuesday. Those detained include six police officers, three doctors and a firefighter.
The deaths of two women who sought abortions made headlines recently in Brazil.The deaths of two women who sought abortions made headlines recently in Brazil.
In August, Jandira Magdalena dos Santos, aged 27, died during an illegal termination in Rio. In August, the body of Jandira Magdalena dos Santos, 27, was found burnt in a car in Rio following a botched termination - nine people were later arrested.
Her body was found burnt in a car, and for which nine people were later arrested. A month later, Elizangela Barbosa, 32, died following an abortion, also in the Rio area. A plastic tube had been left in her stomach.
A month later, Elizangela Barbosa, 32, died following an abortion in a suburb of Rio. Human rights groups argue that the current rules pose a risk to women determined to get an abortion.
Pathologists said a plastic tube had been left in her stomach. Women and girls who violate the ban in Brazil face lengthy jail sentences.
The country boasts a growing evangelical movement which is deeply opposed to a change in the abortion laws.
Latin America's abortion laws
Sources: World Health Organisation, Guttmacher Institute