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The photographer

A photographer who observed the consequences of a large-scale security raid in Rio de Janeiro has reported how local people came back with disfigured remains of those who had died.

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

One of the bodies had been decapitated - others were "completely mutilated", he said. Several bodies showed evidence of blade trauma.

Over 120 individuals lost their lives during the security action against a criminal group - the bloodiest action Rio has experienced.

The eyewitness explained that he initially learned about the operation Tuesday morning by local people from the Alemão area, who sent him messages alerting him gunfire had erupted.

The eyewitness made his way to the healthcare center, where the victims were arriving.

The photographer stated that security forces prevented journalists from accessing the operation zone, where the operation were taking place.

"Law enforcement personnel created a barrier and announced: 'Media representatives doesn't get past here'."

However, the photographer, who spent his childhood in that neighborhood, explained he succeeded to make his way past the security perimeter, where he remained until dawn.

He explained during the night, community members commenced searching the elevated terrain which divides Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for family members who had been missing after the operation.

Residents of the Penha neighbourhood organized the discovered victims in a square - the photographer's images reveal the emotions of the gathered crowd.

"The violence of the situation affected me profoundly: the grief of loved ones, women collapsing, pregnant wives, weeping, outraged parents," the photographer recalled.

Bruno Itan

The state leader of the state announced that the large-scale security action involving around 2,500 officers was intended to preventing an illegal organization known as Comando Vermelho from growing their influence.

Initially, local officials maintained that "60 suspects plus four law enforcement personnel" lost their lives in the operation.

Officials subsequently stated that their "preliminary" count indicates that 117 "suspects" lost their lives.

The public legal service, that gives legal support to disadvantaged individuals, has estimated the final tally of people killed to be 132.

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

It is widely considered among the biggest criminal organizations in the country, in company with a rival criminal group, and has a history spanning over five decades.

According to Brazilian journalist a specialist, with extensive experience documenting criminal activity in the city for years, the criminal organization "operates like a franchise" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and acting as "business partners".

The gang engages primarily in illegal drug trade, while also dealing in weapons, precious metals, petroleum products, beverages and tobacco.

Per law enforcement statements, gang members are well armed and authorities stated that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The governor of Rio state, the government representative, described Red Command members as drug terrorists and referred to the law enforcement personnel killed in the raid as courageous individuals.

Nevertheless, the total of casualties during the raid has faced scrutiny from international human rights authorities expressing they felt "horrified".

At a news conference on Wednesday, Governor Castro supported law enforcement.

"There was no objective to cause fatalities. We aimed to take suspects into custody without harm," he stated.

He further explained that the circumstances had escalated as the individuals had retaliated: "It resulted of the resistance they implemented and the disproportionate use of force from the gang members."

The governor additionally stated that the victims presented by community members in the area had been "manipulated".

Via a statement on online platforms, he asserted that some of them had been taken of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "to redirect responsibility onto the police".

Felipe Curi of Rio's civil police force additionally stated that "camouflage clothing, vests, and firearms" were stripped from the casualties and displayed evidence apparently demonstrating an individual removing tactical gear {off a corpse