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The photographer

A reporter who observed the aftermath of a massive security raid in Rio de Janeiro has recounted how residents returned with disfigured remains of people who lost their lives.

The victims "kept coming: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer reported. They included law enforcement personnel.

A particular victim had been decapitated - while others appeared "completely mutilated", he explained. Many also had what appeared to be knife injuries.

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

Bruno Itan stated that residents first notified him concerning the action Tuesday morning by community members of the Alemão neighbourhood, who reached out telling him gunfire had erupted.

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

Itan explained that law enforcement blocked media personnel from accessing the Penha neighborhood, where the police action was under way.

"Security forces created a barrier and announced: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."

However, the photographer, who spent his childhood in that neighborhood, stated he was able to make his way into the restricted zone, where he continued through the night.

He described that Tuesday night, local residents began to search the elevated terrain which divides Penha from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Residents living in Penha proceeded to place the located casualties in a public space - the photographer's images display the emotions of the people there.

"The brutality of it all affected me deeply: the sorrow of the families, mothers fainting, women carrying children, weeping, outraged parents," the photographer recalled.

Bruno Itan

The governor of the region stated that the massive police operation with approximately 2,500 officers was aimed at halting a criminal group referred to as Comando Vermelho from growing their influence.

At first, state authorities claimed that sixty alleged criminals and four police officers" lost their lives in the operation.

They have since said that early calculations shows that 117 alleged criminals were fatally injured.

Rio's public defender's office, that gives legal support to the poor, has estimated the total number of people killed as 132.

Based on expert analysis, the gang represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has been able to expand its territory in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

It is generally regarded among the biggest criminal organizations nationally, in company with another major gang, featuring a timeline extending half a century.

Based on Brazilian journalist Rafael Soares, who has been covering criminal activity in the city for years, Red Command "works as a system" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and serving as "commercial associates".

The organization focuses mainly on illegal drug trade, but also smuggles guns, gold, energy resources, liquor and tobacco.

Per law enforcement statements, organization members possess significant weaponry and authorities stated that during the raid, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The state leader of the region, Cláudio Castro, characterized Red Command members as drug terrorists and referred to the law enforcement personnel who died during the operation as brave public servants.

However, the count of fatalities during the raid has received condemnation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressing they felt "shocked".

At a news conference on Wednesday, the official justified security actions.

"There was no objective to kill anyone. We intended to detain everyone safely," he declared.

He further explained that the events had escalated as the individuals fought back: "It resulted of the counterattack they implemented and the excessive violence by those criminals."

The state leader also said that the victims displayed by locals in the area were "altered".

Via a statement on online platforms, he asserted that particular individuals had been taken of military-style attire which he claimed they wore "to redirect responsibility onto the police".

Felipe Curi representing security forces additionally stated that tactical gear, body armor, and firearms" were stripped from the casualties and presented video apparently demonstrating an individual stripping military attire {off a corpse