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Bruno Itan

A photographer who observed the consequences of an extensive Brazilian police operation in the Brazilian city has described how residents brought back mutilated bodies of those who had died.

The bodies "continued arriving: the count kept increasing", the eyewitness stated. Among them were law enforcement personnel.

One of the bodies was found without a head - additional victims were "severely damaged", he explained. Numerous victims displayed what appeared to be blade trauma.

Over 120 individuals were fatally injured during Tuesday's raid against a criminal group - the deadliest such raid the municipality has seen.

The eyewitness explained that he initially learned about the operation early on Tuesday by residents living in Alemão, who reached out telling him there was a shoot-out.

The photographer went to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the casualties were arriving.

The photographer stated that the police blocked media personnel from entering the Penha neighborhood, where the operation were occurring.

"Security forces created a barrier and announced: 'The press cannot proceed beyond this point'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who grew up in the community, reported he succeeded to gain access past the security perimeter, where he continued until the next morning.

He reported that evening, area inhabitants commenced searching the mountainous area which divides the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for loved ones who were unaccounted for following the security action.

Community members living in Penha proceeded to place the located casualties in an open area - the documented evidence reveal the reaction of the gathered crowd.

"The brutality of the situation affected me profoundly: the sorrow of relatives, mothers fainting, women carrying children, crying, outraged parents," the eyewitness remembered.

The photographer

The official of the region stated that the large-scale security action involving around 2,500 security personnel was intended to halting a criminal group referred to as Red Command from growing their influence.

At first, local officials stated that sixty individuals plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed in the raid.

Officials subsequently stated that their "preliminary" count shows that 117 individuals were fatally injured.

The legal assistance organization, that gives legal support to low-income residents, has estimated the final tally of casualties as 132.

Per investigative findings, the criminal organization is the only criminal group that in the past few years has been able to expand its territory across the region.

It is generally regarded one of the two largest gangs in the country, alongside another major gang, with a background extending half a century.

Based on correspondent Rafael Soares, who has long reported on criminal activity in the city over many years, the gang "functions as a network" with area gang leaders joining the organization and acting as "operational allies".

The gang focuses mainly on drug trafficking, but also smuggles guns, gold, energy resources, beverages and tobacco.

According to the authorities, organization members are well armed and officials reported that during the raid, they encountered resistance using drone-delivered explosives.

The official of Rio state, the political leader, labeled gang affiliates as drug terrorists and referred to the law enforcement personnel killed in the raid as courageous individuals.

Nevertheless, the total of fatalities during the raid has received condemnation from UN human rights officials stating they were "horrified".

During a press briefing the following day, the official defended the police force.

"There was no objective to kill anyone. We aimed to take suspects into custody without harm," he declared.

He further explained that the situation had escalated due to the alleged criminals fought back: "It was a consequence of the counterattack they carried out and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The state leader further reported that the bodies displayed by locals in Penha were "altered".

Through a message through digital channels, he asserted that certain victims had been stripped of military-style attire he said they had been wearing "in order to shift blame toward law enforcement".

A police official of Rio's civil police force additionally stated that tactical gear, body armor, and firearms" were taken away from the casualties and showed footage appearing to show an individual removing tactical gear {off a corpse