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The eyewitness

An eyewitness who observed the consequences of a massive security raid in the metropolitan area has reported how residents came back with badly injured victims of those who had died.

The bodies "kept piling up: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", Bruno Itan reported. The total contained security forces.

One individual was found without a head - others were "severely damaged", he said. Many also had what appeared to be blade trauma.

In excess of 120 victims lost their lives in the Tuesday operation targeting an illegal organization - the most lethal operation in the city.

The photographer explained that he initially learned about the operation early on Tuesday by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who contacted him telling him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The eyewitness made his way to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the bodies were coming in.

The photographer stated that the police blocked media personnel from entering the Penha neighborhood, where the operation were occurring.

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

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who was raised in the area, explained he managed to gain access into the restricted zone, where he stayed until the next morning.

He reported during the night, local residents commenced searching the elevated terrain that separates the Penha neighborhood from the adjacent Alemão area for loved ones whose whereabouts were unknown after the operation.

Local people of the Penha neighbourhood proceeded to place the located casualties in a square - the photographer's images reveal the response of those present.

"The harsh reality of the situation shook me a lot: the pain of relatives, parents losing consciousness, women carrying children, weeping, angry family members," the photographer recalled.

Bruno Itan

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

Initially, the Rio state government claimed that "60 suspects plus four law enforcement personnel" were fatally injured during the action.

Authorities later reported that early calculations suggests that 117 individuals lost their lives.

The legal assistance organization, which provides legal assistance to low-income residents, has estimated the total number of casualties to be 132.

According to researchers, the gang represents the unique criminal entity that recently has managed to increase its control across the region.

It is widely considered as a major illegal faction in Brazil, together with First Capital Command, with a background extending half a century.

Based on correspondent an expert, who has long reported on crime in Rio over many years, the gang "works as a system" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and acting as "commercial associates".

The gang engages primarily in narcotics distribution, but also smuggles guns, gold, energy resources, liquor cigarettes.

Based on official reports, gang members are well armed and officials reported that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The official of the state, the political leader, characterized Red Command members as "narcoterrorists" and described the four police officers who died during the operation as courageous individuals.

However, the count of fatalities in the operation has come in for criticism with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stating they were "horrified".

During a press briefing the next day, the official supported law enforcement.

"We did not plan to kill anyone. We wanted to detain everyone safely," he declared.

He continued that the circumstances intensified due to the alleged criminals resisted aggressively: "It occurred of the counterattack they carried out and the excessive violence from the gang members."

The official additionally stated that the bodies displayed by locals in the neighborhood were "altered".

In a post on online platforms, he asserted that particular individuals had been removed of tactical gear he said they had been wearing "in order to shift blame to security forces".

A police official from the police department further reported that "camouflage clothing, body armor, and arms" had been removed from the victims and presented video apparently demonstrating an individual cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse