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The photographer

A reporter who observed the consequences of an extensive law enforcement action in the metropolitan area has described how local people brought back disfigured remains of the deceased individuals.

The casualties "continued arriving: the numbers kept rising", Bruno Itan described. The total contained those of police officers.

One of the bodies was discovered headless - additional victims were "completely mutilated", he reported. Several bodies showed what appeared to be knife injuries.

In excess of 120 victims were fatally injured during the security action against a criminal group - the deadliest such raid the municipality has seen.

The eyewitness stated that he was first alerted concerning the action early on Tuesday by community members living in Alemão, who sent him messages telling him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The reporter made his way to the healthcare center, where the bodies were coming in.

The photographer stated that the police blocked media personnel from accessing the affected area, where the security measures was under way.

"Security forces formed a line and declared: 'Media representatives doesn't get past here'."

However, the photographer, who grew up in that neighborhood, stated he was able to make his way into the restricted zone, where he stayed until the next morning.

He reported that Tuesday night, area inhabitants started looking the hillside that borders the Penha neighborhood from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for loved ones who were unaccounted for since the police raid.

Community members living in Penha organized the located casualties in an open area - the documented evidence show the reaction of the people there.

"The violence of it all shook me a lot: the sorrow of the families, women collapsing, pregnant wives, crying, outraged parents," the eyewitness remembered.

The photographer

The state leader of the state announced that the large-scale security action deploying about 2,500 officers was aimed at halting a gang called Red Command from expanding its territory.

At first, the Rio state government stated that "60 suspects and four police officers" lost their lives during the action.

They have since said that initial estimates suggests that 117 alleged criminals lost their lives.

The public legal service, that gives legal support to disadvantaged individuals, has put the overall count of fatalities at 132.

Per investigative findings, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity that recently has succeeded to make territorial gains across the region.

It is generally regarded one of the two largest gangs in the country, alongside a rival criminal group, featuring a timeline spanning over five decades.

Based on Brazilian journalist Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting crime in Rio extensively, the criminal organization "works as a system" with neighborhood bosses joining the organization and becoming "operational allies".

The gang focuses mainly on illegal drug trade, but also smuggles weapons, valuable minerals, fuel, beverages smoking products.

Per law enforcement statements, gang members are well armed and officials reported that while the action was underway, they faced assaults using drone-delivered explosives.

The state leader of the state, Cláudio Castro, described Red Command members as criminal extremists and referred to the law enforcement personnel who died during the operation as courageous individuals.

But the number of fatalities in the security action has received condemnation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressing they felt "shocked".

In a media appearance the following day, Governor Castro supported law enforcement.

"We did not plan to cause fatalities. We aimed to detain everyone safely," he declared.

He added that the circumstances intensified as the individuals fought back: "It resulted of the counterattack they executed and the excessive violence by the illegal group."

The official further reported that the victims shown by residents in the neighborhood were "altered".

Via a statement on online platforms, he claimed that some of them had been removed of the camouflage clothing that he stated they possessed "to redirect responsibility onto the police".

A law enforcement representative representing security forces further reported that military attire, vests, and weapons" were taken away from the casualties and showed footage seemingly depicting a man removing tactical gear {off a corpse