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The eyewitness

A photographer who witnessed the aftermath of a massive law enforcement action in the metropolitan area has reported how local people came back with disfigured remains of the deceased individuals.

The bodies "kept piling up: the count kept increasing", Bruno Itan described. Among them were security forces.

One of the bodies was discovered headless - while others appeared "totally disfigured", he said. Numerous victims displayed evidence of knife injuries.

In excess of 120 victims were fatally injured during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang - the bloodiest action the municipality has seen.

The eyewitness stated that he was first alerted to the raid early on Tuesday by residents living in Alemão, who contacted him alerting him there was a shoot-out.

The reporter traveled to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the casualties were being brought.

The photographer stated that security forces prevented journalists from going into the affected area, where the operation were taking place.

"Law enforcement personnel formed a line and declared: 'Media representatives doesn't get past here'."

But Itan, who was raised in the community, stated he was able to enter into the restricted zone, where he stayed until dawn.

He explained during the night, area inhabitants started looking the mountainous area which divides the community of Penha and the neighboring Alemão community for loved ones whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Residents from the Penha area proceeded to place the discovered victims in a public space - the photographer's images reveal the reaction of those present.

"The harsh reality of it all affected me deeply: the grief of relatives, parents losing consciousness, pregnant wives, sobbing, angry family members," the eyewitness remembered.

Bruno Itan

The official of Rio state stated that the massive police operation with approximately 2,500 security personnel was intended to preventing an illegal organization known as Red Command from increasing their control.

Originally, the Rio state government claimed that "60 suspects plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed during the action.

They have since said that their "preliminary" count shows that 117 individuals were fatally injured.

The legal assistance organization, which provides legal assistance to disadvantaged individuals, has estimated the overall count of people killed to be 132.

According to researchers, Red Command stands as the sole illegal faction that in the past few years has managed to make territorial gains throughout Rio state.

It is widely considered as a major illegal faction in Brazil, in company with another major gang, featuring a timeline dating back more than 50 years.

According to reporter Rafael Soares, who has long reported on illegal operations in Rio over many years, the gang "operates like a franchise" with neighborhood bosses affiliating with the group and acting as "commercial associates".

The criminal group focuses mainly on drug trafficking, but also smuggles weapons, gold, energy resources, beverages smoking products.

According to the authorities, organization members possess significant weaponry and authorities stated that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The official of Rio state, Cláudio Castro, labeled organization participants as criminal extremists and described the four police officers who died during the operation as courageous individuals.

However, the count of casualties during the raid has come in for criticism from international human rights authorities expressing they felt "shocked".

During a press briefing the next day, the state leader supported law enforcement.

"It wasn't our intention to result in deaths. We intended to detain everyone safely," he stated.

He added that the situation intensified as the individuals resisted aggressively: "It was a consequence of the counterattack they carried out and the disproportionate use of force from the gang members."

The official further reported that the bodies shown by residents in Penha had been "tampered with".

Through a message on social media, he claimed that some of them had been stripped of military-style attire he said they had been wearing "to redirect responsibility toward law enforcement".

Felipe Curi from the police department additionally stated that tactical gear, protective equipment, and weapons" were stripped from the victims and presented video apparently demonstrating a person removing tactical gear {off a corpse