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The eyewitness

A photographer who documented the aftermath of a massive Brazilian police operation in the Brazilian city has recounted how local people came back with badly injured victims of people who lost their lives.

The bodies "continued arriving: the numbers kept rising", the photographer stated. They included those of police officers.

A particular victim was found without a head - while others appeared "totally disfigured", he reported. Numerous victims displayed what appeared to be knife injuries.

Over 120 individuals lost their lives in the Tuesday operation targeting an illegal organization - the bloodiest action the municipality has seen.

The photographer reported that residents first notified him about the operation Tuesday morning by local people living in Alemão, who contacted him telling him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The eyewitness went to a local medical facility, where the victims were being brought.

Itan explained that law enforcement blocked media personnel from entering the Penha neighborhood, where the security measures were taking place.

"Police officers created a barrier and announced: 'Journalists doesn't get past here'."

However, the photographer, who grew up in the community, reported he succeeded to gain access past the security perimeter, where he continued until dawn.

He explained during the night, area inhabitants commenced searching the hillside that separates Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for loved ones whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Residents of the Penha neighbourhood arranged the located casualties in an open area - and Itan's photos show the emotions of those present.

"The violence of the situation affected me deeply: the sorrow of loved ones, women collapsing, women carrying children, crying, angry family members," the reporter recounted.

Bruno Itan

The governor of the region stated that the extensive law enforcement effort involving around 2,500 security personnel was intended to preventing a criminal group called Red Command from expanding its territory.

Initially, the Rio state government claimed that "60 suspects along with four officers" were fatally injured in the operation.

Authorities later reported that early calculations suggests that 117 individuals were fatally injured.

The legal assistance organization, which provides legal assistance to low-income residents, has calculated the total number of people killed to be 132.

Per investigative findings, Red Command stands as the sole illegal faction that in the past few years has been able to make territorial gains throughout Rio state.

It is generally regarded as a major illegal faction in Brazil, together with a rival criminal group, and has a history dating back more than 50 years.

According to Brazilian journalist Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio over many years, Red Command "operates like a franchise" with neighborhood bosses affiliating with the group and acting as "commercial associates".

The criminal group focuses mainly on narcotics distribution, but also smuggles weapons, precious metals, fuel, beverages cigarettes.

Per law enforcement statements, gang members are well armed and authorities stated that throughout the operation, they came under attack using drone-delivered explosives.

The state leader of Rio state, the political leader, characterized organization participants as "narcoterrorists" and called the security forces who died during the operation as "heroes".

But the number of fatalities during the raid has come in for criticism from UN human rights officials saying it was "appalled".

During a press briefing the following day, Governor Castro justified security actions.

"There was no objective to kill anyone. We aimed to arrest them all alive," he declared.

He added that the circumstances intensified as the individuals had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the resistance they implemented and the disproportionate use of force from the gang members."

The governor additionally stated that the bodies shown by residents in the neighborhood were "altered".

Via a statement on social media, he claimed that certain victims had been removed of the camouflage clothing that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation to security forces".

Felipe Curi of Rio's civil police force further reported that "camouflage clothing, vests, and weapons" were taken away from the casualties and displayed evidence apparently demonstrating a person removing tactical gear {off a corpse