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The eyewitness

A photographer who documented the aftermath of a massive security raid in the metropolitan area has reported how community members came back with mutilated bodies of people who lost their lives.

The victims "kept piling up: the numbers kept rising", the eyewitness described. They included security forces.

One individual had been decapitated - while others appeared "totally disfigured", he said. Numerous victims displayed evidence of knife injuries.

Over 120 individuals were fatally injured during the security action on a criminal gang - the most lethal operation Rio has experienced.

The photographer explained that he was first alerted to the raid Tuesday morning by local people of the Alemão neighbourhood, who reached out alerting him there was a shoot-out.

The eyewitness went to the healthcare center, where the bodies were coming in.

Itan explained that security forces prevented journalists from entering the Penha neighborhood, where the security measures were occurring.

"Security forces established a perimeter and said: 'The press are not allowed to pass'."

However, the photographer, who was raised in the community, stated he was able to make his way into the restricted zone, where he continued through the night.

He reported that Tuesday night, community members started looking the elevated terrain that separates the community of Penha and the neighboring Alemão community for relatives who were unaccounted for after the operation.

Local people from the Penha area proceeded to place the located casualties in a public space - the photographer's images show the emotions of the people there.

"The harsh reality of the situation shook me deeply: the sorrow of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, pregnant wives, sobbing, furious relatives," the photographer recalled.

Bruno Itan

The state leader of Rio state stated that the large-scale security action deploying about 2,500 officers was aimed at stopping an illegal organization referred to as Comando Vermelho from increasing their control.

Originally, state authorities maintained that sixty individuals and four police officers" were fatally injured during the action.

Officials subsequently stated that initial estimates indicates that 117 individuals lost their lives.

Rio's public defender's office, which provides legal assistance to the poor, has put the final tally of casualties to be 132.

Per investigative findings, the criminal organization stands as the sole illegal faction that in the past few years has succeeded to expand its territory in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

It is widely considered among the biggest criminal organizations in Brazil, in company with another major gang, featuring a timeline dating back more than 50 years.

According to correspondent Rafael Soares, who has long reported on crime in Rio extensively, the criminal organization "works as a system" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and serving as "business partners".

The gang concentrates largely on illegal drug trade, but also smuggles weapons, precious metals, petroleum products, alcohol and tobacco.

Per law enforcement statements, gang members possess significant weaponry and officials reported that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The state leader of the state, the government representative, characterized gang affiliates as "narcoterrorists" and described the four police officers who died during the operation as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of fatalities during the raid has come in for criticism from international human rights authorities stating they were "shocked".

During a press briefing on Wednesday, the official supported law enforcement.

"There was no objective to result in deaths. We wanted to detain everyone safely," he said.

He further explained that the situation intensified due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the counterattack they executed and the disproportionate use of force by those criminals."

The official additionally stated that the victims displayed by locals in the neighborhood had been "tampered with".

In a post through digital channels, he asserted that particular individuals had been taken of military-style attire which he claimed they wore "to transfer accusation to security forces".

A police official from the police department further reported that "camouflage clothing, body armor, and arms" were taken away from the bodies and presented video appearing to show an individual cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse