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Bruno Itan

An eyewitness who documented the aftermath of a massive Brazilian police operation in the Brazilian city has recounted how residents returned with disfigured remains of the deceased individuals.

The bodies "kept coming: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer described. Among them were those of police officers.

A particular victim was found without a head - while others appeared "totally disfigured", he reported. Numerous victims displayed what he described as blade trauma.

More than 120 people lost their lives in the Tuesday operation against a criminal group - the bloodiest action Rio has experienced.

The photographer stated that residents first notified him concerning the action Tuesday morning by local people from the Alemão area, who sent him messages telling him gunfire had erupted.

The reporter traveled to a local medical facility, where the casualties were arriving.

The eyewitness reported that security forces blocked media personnel from entering the Penha neighborhood, where the security measures were taking place.

"Police officers established a perimeter and declared: 'Journalists doesn't get past here'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who grew up in the area, explained he succeeded to gain access into the restricted zone, where he remained until the next morning.

He described that evening, community members started looking the elevated terrain that borders Penha from the adjacent Alemão area for relatives who were unaccounted for since the police raid.

Community members of the Penha neighbourhood organized the recovered bodies in a public space - the photographer's images show the reaction of the people there.

"The violence of what occurred affected me a lot: the grief of loved ones, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, sobbing, outraged parents," the reporter recounted.

Bruno Itan

The governor of Rio state stated that the large-scale security action deploying about 2,500 law enforcement members was aimed at preventing a criminal group known as the criminal faction from increasing their control.

Initially, state authorities claimed that sixty individuals plus four law enforcement personnel" lost their lives in the raid.

Officials subsequently stated that early calculations suggests that 117 individuals have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, which provides legal assistance to disadvantaged individuals, has calculated the overall count of fatalities as 132.

Based on expert analysis, the gang represents the unique criminal entity that recently has managed to increase its control in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

It is generally regarded one of the two largest gangs in the country, in company with First Capital Command, and has a history extending half a century.

Per correspondent an expert, who has been covering illegal operations in Rio extensively, Red Command "works as a system" with area gang leaders joining the organization and serving as "commercial associates".

The criminal group engages primarily in illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking firearms, valuable minerals, petroleum products, beverages and tobacco.

Based on official reports, gang members have substantial firearms and officials reported that during the raid, they encountered resistance using drone-delivered explosives.

The official of the state, the government representative, described gang affiliates as criminal extremists and referred to the four police officers fatally injured in the action as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of people killed in the operation has come in for criticism with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stating they were "appalled".

At a news conference the next day, the state leader supported law enforcement.

"It wasn't our intention to result in deaths. We intended to arrest them all alive," he declared.

He further explained that the circumstances worsened because the suspects had retaliated: "It occurred of the resistance they implemented and the overwhelming response by those criminals."

The governor also said that the casualties presented by community members in Penha were "altered".

In a post on social media, he claimed that some of them had been taken of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation onto the police".

Felipe Curi of Rio's civil police force also said that military attire, body armor, and weapons" had been removed from the victims and presented video seemingly depicting an individual cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse