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The eyewitness

A photographer who observed the results of an extensive law enforcement action in the Brazilian city has recounted how local people returned with mutilated bodies of the deceased individuals.

The victims "continued arriving: the numbers kept rising", Bruno Itan stated. Among them were security forces.

One individual was found without a head - additional victims were "severely damaged", he said. Several bodies showed evidence of stab wounds.

In excess of 120 victims lost their lives during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang - the most lethal operation in the city.

Bruno Itan explained that residents first notified him concerning the action in the early hours by residents living in Alemão, who contacted him telling him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The eyewitness traveled to the healthcare center, where the victims were coming in.

Itan explained that the police prevented journalists from entering the operation zone, where the police action were occurring.

"Police officers formed a line and announced: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who was raised in the community, stated he was able to make his way past the security perimeter, where he continued through the night.

He explained during the night, community members started looking the mountainous area which divides the Penha neighborhood from the neighboring Alemão community for family members who had been missing since the police raid.

Community members of the Penha neighbourhood proceeded to place the located casualties in a square - the photographer's images show the emotions of the people there.

"The brutality of what occurred affected me deeply: the pain of relatives, parents losing consciousness, expectant spouses, crying, outraged parents," the reporter recounted.

The photographer

The state leader of Rio state declared that the large-scale security action deploying about 2,500 law enforcement members was aimed at stopping a gang known as Red Command from growing their influence.

At first, local officials claimed that sixty alleged criminals and four police officers" lost their lives in the raid.

They have since said that initial estimates shows that 117 "suspects" lost their lives.

The legal assistance organization, that gives legal support to disadvantaged individuals, has put the final tally of people killed at 132.

Per investigative findings, the gang represents the unique criminal entity that recently has been able to expand its territory across the region.

It is generally regarded as a major illegal faction in Brazil, alongside a rival criminal group, featuring a timeline dating back more than 50 years.

Based on Brazilian journalist an expert, with extensive experience documenting crime in Rio extensively, Red Command "functions as a network" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and becoming "commercial associates".

The organization concentrates largely on drug trafficking, additionally trafficking weapons, valuable minerals, petroleum products, alcohol smoking products.

Per law enforcement statements, criminal affiliates possess significant weaponry and officials reported that throughout the operation, they faced assaults using drone-delivered explosives.

The state leader of Rio state, the government representative, described gang affiliates as drug terrorists and referred to the security forces who died during the operation as "heroes".

Nevertheless, the total of casualties in the operation has come in for criticism with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights saying it was "appalled".

During a press briefing the next day, Governor Castro defended the police force.

"It wasn't our intention to result in deaths. We aimed to take suspects into custody without harm," he declared.

He further explained that the circumstances worsened due to the alleged criminals resisted aggressively: "It was a consequence of the resistance they carried out and the excessive violence by those criminals."

The governor also said that the bodies displayed by locals in the area were "altered".

Via a statement on online platforms, he asserted that particular individuals had been stripped of the camouflage clothing that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation toward law enforcement".

A police official of Rio's civil police force additionally stated that military attire, protective equipment, and arms" were taken away from the victims and presented video seemingly depicting a person cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse