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The photographer

A photographer who observed the results of a massive Brazilian police operation in the metropolitan area has reported how local people returned with mutilated bodies of those who had died.

The bodies "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer stated. Among them were security forces.

One of the bodies was found without a head - additional victims were "severely damaged", he reported. Numerous victims displayed what appeared to be stab wounds.

Over 120 individuals were fatally injured during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the most lethal operation Rio has experienced.

The photographer reported that he was first alerted concerning the action in the early hours by local people from the Alemão area, who sent him messages telling him gunfire had erupted.

The photographer made his way to the healthcare center, where the casualties were coming in.

Itan explained that the police blocked media personnel from accessing the affected area, where the operation were taking place.

"Security forces formed a line and announced: 'Media representatives doesn't get past here'."

However, the photographer, who spent his childhood in the area, stated he managed to enter past the security perimeter, where he continued through the night.

He explained during the night, local residents started looking the mountainous area that separates the community of Penha and the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for loved ones who had been missing since the police raid.

Local people living in Penha proceeded to place the recovered bodies in a public space - and Itan's photos show the reaction of the people there.

"The brutality of it all affected me deeply: the grief of loved ones, women collapsing, women carrying children, weeping, angry family members," the eyewitness remembered.

Bruno Itan

The governor of the state stated that the extensive law enforcement effort deploying about 2,500 law enforcement members was designed to preventing a criminal group known as Red Command from increasing their control.

Originally, state authorities maintained that sixty individuals plus four law enforcement personnel" lost their lives in the raid.

Officials subsequently stated that their "preliminary" count suggests that 117 individuals have been killed.

The public legal service, which provides legal assistance to the poor, has put the total number of fatalities as 132.

Per investigative findings, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity that recently has managed to make territorial gains in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Experts commonly view among the biggest criminal organizations in Brazil, in company with First Capital Command, with a background dating back more than 50 years.

According to reporter a specialist, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio for years, Red Command "functions as a network" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and becoming "operational allies".

The criminal group engages primarily in illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking firearms, valuable minerals, fuel, beverages and tobacco.

Based on official reports, organization members possess significant weaponry and officials reported that during the raid, they came under attack using drone-delivered explosives.

The official of Rio state, Cláudio Castro, described organization participants as drug terrorists and described the four police officers killed in the raid as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of casualties in the security action has received condemnation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights saying it was "appalled".

At a news conference the next day, Governor Castro justified security actions.

"We did not plan to kill anyone. We intended to detain everyone safely," he said.

He continued that the situation had escalated due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It occurred of the retaliation they carried out and the excessive violence by those criminals."

The state leader also said that the victims shown by residents in Penha were "altered".

Through a message on social media, he claimed that particular individuals had been stripped of military-style attire he said they had been wearing "to transfer accusation to security forces".

A law enforcement representative of Rio's civil police force further reported that military attire, vests, and firearms" were taken away from the casualties and displayed evidence appearing to show a person removing tactical gear {off a corpse