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The eyewitness

An eyewitness who witnessed the consequences of an extensive law enforcement action in Rio de Janeiro has described how community members brought back disfigured remains of the deceased individuals.

The casualties "kept piling up: the numbers kept rising", the eyewitness described. Among them were those of police officers.

One of the bodies was found without a head - additional victims were "severely damaged", he reported. Numerous victims displayed evidence of knife injuries.

Over 120 individuals were fatally injured in the Tuesday operation targeting an illegal organization - the most lethal operation in the city.

The photographer reported that he was first alerted about the operation in the early hours by local people of the Alemão neighbourhood, who reached out telling him gunfire had erupted.

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

Itan explained that security forces prevented journalists from entering the operation zone, where the police action were occurring.

"Police officers established a perimeter and said: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."

However, the photographer, who spent his childhood in the community, stated he succeeded to make his way into the cordoned-off area, where he stayed through the night.

He reported during the night, local residents began to search the elevated terrain that separates the Penha neighborhood from the neighboring Alemão community for family members who had been missing following the security action.

Local people from the Penha area proceeded to place the located casualties in an open area - the photographer's images display the reaction of those present.

"The violence of what occurred shook me a lot: the pain of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, expectant spouses, weeping, angry family members," the photographer recalled.

The eyewitness

The governor of the state announced that the massive police operation with approximately 2,500 security personnel was designed to halting a criminal group known as Comando Vermelho from increasing their control.

Originally, state authorities stated that "60 suspects plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed in the raid.

They have since said that their "preliminary" count suggests that 117 individuals lost their lives.

Rio's public defender's office, that gives legal support to the poor, has put the overall count of people killed as 132.

Based on expert analysis, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity that in the past few years has managed to make territorial gains in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

It is generally regarded among the biggest criminal organizations in Brazil, in company with First Capital Command, featuring a timeline dating back more than 50 years.

Per reporter an expert, with extensive experience documenting crime in Rio for years, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with local criminal leaders joining the organization and serving as "operational allies".

The organization concentrates largely on drug trafficking, but also smuggles weapons, gold, petroleum products, alcohol and tobacco.

Based on official reports, gang members have substantial firearms and authorities stated that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The governor of the region, the political leader, described organization participants as criminal extremists and referred to the law enforcement personnel fatally injured in the action as "heroes".

However, the count of people killed during the raid has come in for criticism from international human rights authorities saying it was "shocked".

At a news conference on Wednesday, the state leader defended the police force.

"We did not plan to kill anyone. We aimed to detain everyone safely," he stated.

He further explained that the situation worsened due to the alleged criminals resisted aggressively: "It occurred of the resistance they executed and the disproportionate use of force by those criminals."

The official further reported that the bodies shown by residents in the area had been "manipulated".

Via a statement on online platforms, he asserted that some of them had been stripped of tactical gear he said they had been wearing "to transfer accusation to security forces".

A law enforcement representative from the police department further reported that "camouflage clothing, vests, and firearms" were taken away from the casualties and displayed evidence apparently demonstrating an individual cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse