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The photographer

A reporter who documented the results of an extensive law enforcement action in the Brazilian city has recounted how residents brought back disfigured remains 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 discovered headless - while others appeared "severely damaged", he explained. Many also had what appeared to be blade trauma.

More than 120 people were killed during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang - the bloodiest action Rio has experienced.

The photographer stated that he initially learned about the operation early on Tuesday by community members living in Alemão, who reached out alerting him there was a shoot-out.

The photographer went to a local medical facility, where the bodies were coming in.

The photographer stated that security forces prevented journalists from going into the operation zone, where the police action were taking place.

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

However, the photographer, who was raised in that neighborhood, reported he managed to enter past the security perimeter, where he remained through the night.

He reported that Tuesday night, area inhabitants started looking the mountainous area which divides the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for loved ones who had been missing following the security action.

Residents from the Penha area arranged the located casualties in a public space - and Itan's photos display the reaction of the gathered crowd.

"The violence of what occurred impacted me deeply: the pain of relatives, mothers fainting, women carrying children, crying, outraged parents," the reporter recounted.

The eyewitness

The official of the state announced that the massive police operation deploying about 2,500 officers was aimed at stopping an illegal organization known as the criminal faction from increasing their control.

Originally, local officials claimed that "60 suspects along with four officers" were fatally injured in the operation.

Authorities later reported that their "preliminary" count indicates that 117 individuals have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, that gives legal support to the poor, has put the final tally of casualties to be 132.

Based on expert analysis, Red Command is the only criminal group which in recent years has managed to increase its control throughout Rio state.

Experts commonly view as a major illegal faction in Brazil, in company with a rival criminal group, with a background dating back more than 50 years.

Based on correspondent a specialist, who has been covering illegal operations in Rio extensively, the gang "functions as a network" with area gang leaders joining the organization and becoming "commercial associates".

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

Based on official reports, criminal affiliates possess significant weaponry and authorities stated that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The official of the region, Cláudio Castro, described Red Command members as drug terrorists and called the four police officers who died during the operation as courageous individuals.

However, the count of casualties during the raid has faced scrutiny with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressing they felt "horrified".

In a media appearance the following day, Governor Castro defended the police force.

"There was no objective to result in deaths. We wanted to take suspects into custody without harm," he said.

He added that the events intensified as the individuals resisted aggressively: "It was a consequence of the resistance they carried out and the overwhelming response by those criminals."

The governor also said that the victims displayed by locals in the neighborhood had been "manipulated".

Via a statement on social media, he claimed that particular individuals had been stripped of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "to redirect responsibility to security forces".

A law enforcement representative of Rio's civil police force further reported that tactical gear, protective equipment, and arms" were stripped from the victims and showed footage seemingly depicting a person removing tactical gear {off a corpse