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The eyewitness

An eyewitness who observed the aftermath of a large-scale law enforcement action in the Brazilian city has recounted how residents came back with mutilated bodies of people who lost their lives.

The victims "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the eyewitness reported. They included security forces.

A particular victim was discovered headless - additional victims were "severely damaged", he reported. Several bodies showed evidence of stab wounds.

Over 120 individuals were fatally injured during the security action against a criminal group - the bloodiest action Rio has experienced.

Bruno Itan reported that he initially learned to the raid in the early hours by local people of the Alemão neighbourhood, who reached out alerting him there was a shoot-out.

The photographer went to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the bodies were arriving.

The eyewitness reported that security forces prevented journalists from entering the Penha neighborhood, where the security measures were taking place.

"Police officers established a perimeter and announced: 'The press are not allowed to pass'."

However, the photographer, who grew up in that neighborhood, explained he succeeded to gain access into the restricted zone, where he stayed until dawn.

He explained during the night, community members commenced searching the hillside that borders the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for family members who had been missing since the police raid.

Community members from the Penha area proceeded to place the recovered bodies in a public space - the photographer's images show the reaction of those present.

"The brutality of the situation affected me deeply: the sorrow of loved ones, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, weeping, angry family members," the reporter recounted.

Bruno Itan

The official of the region stated that the large-scale security action involving around 2,500 security personnel was aimed at halting an illegal organization known as Comando Vermelho from increasing their control.

Originally, state authorities stated that sixty individuals plus four law enforcement personnel" were fatally injured in the raid.

Authorities later reported that early calculations indicates that 117 individuals have been killed.

The public legal service, which provides legal assistance to disadvantaged individuals, has calculated the total number of casualties as 132.

Based on expert analysis, the gang stands as the sole illegal faction that in the past few years has succeeded to increase its control throughout Rio state.

It is generally regarded among the biggest criminal organizations in the country, alongside First Capital Command, and has a history dating back more than 50 years.

Per reporter an expert, with extensive experience documenting criminal activity in the city over many years, the criminal organization "operates like a franchise" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and serving as "operational allies".

The organization engages primarily in narcotics distribution, additionally trafficking weapons, valuable minerals, petroleum products, alcohol cigarettes.

Per law enforcement statements, gang members possess significant weaponry and authorities stated that during the raid, they encountered resistance using drone-delivered explosives.

The official of Rio state, the government representative, labeled gang affiliates as drug terrorists and described the law enforcement personnel who died during the operation as courageous individuals.

However, the count of casualties in the security action has received condemnation from international human rights authorities saying it was "horrified".

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

"There was no objective to kill anyone. We wanted to detain everyone safely," he stated.

He continued that the situation had escalated due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the resistance they carried out and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The official also said that the bodies displayed by locals in Penha had been "tampered with".

Via a statement on social media, he asserted that some of them had been removed of the camouflage clothing that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation toward law enforcement".

A police official representing security forces additionally stated that tactical gear, vests, and firearms" were taken away from the bodies and showed footage apparently demonstrating a person cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse