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The photographer

A reporter who documented the results of an extensive law enforcement action in the metropolitan area has recounted how local people brought back disfigured remains of those who had died.

The victims "continued arriving: the numbers kept rising", the photographer reported. The total contained law enforcement personnel.

One individual had been decapitated - while others appeared "severely damaged", he said. Several bodies showed evidence of stab wounds.

More than 120 people were fatally injured in the Tuesday operation against a criminal group - the bloodiest action Rio has experienced.

Bruno Itan reported that he initially learned to the raid Tuesday morning by residents from the Alemão area, who reached out informing him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The eyewitness traveled to a local medical facility, where the casualties were arriving.

Itan explained that security forces stopped members of the press from accessing the operation zone, where the security measures were occurring.

"Police officers created a barrier and said: 'The press are not allowed to pass'."

However, the photographer, who was raised in the community, explained he was able to enter into the restricted zone, where he continued until the next morning.

He described during the night, community members began to search the elevated terrain that separates Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for relatives who were unaccounted for following the security action.

Local people living in Penha proceeded to place the discovered victims in an open area - and Itan's photos reveal the response of those present.

"The violence of it all impacted me a lot: the pain of the families, parents losing consciousness, women carrying children, weeping, outraged parents," the reporter recounted.

Bruno Itan

The official of Rio state stated that the extensive law enforcement effort deploying about 2,500 law enforcement members was aimed at stopping an illegal organization known as Comando Vermelho from increasing their control.

Initially, state authorities claimed that sixty individuals and four police officers" lost their lives in the raid.

They have since said that early calculations indicates that 117 "suspects" have been killed.

The legal assistance organization, which provides legal assistance to low-income residents, has put the final tally of fatalities as 132.

According to researchers, the gang stands as the sole illegal faction that in the past few years has been able to increase its control throughout Rio state.

Experts commonly view one of the two largest gangs in the country, together with First Capital Command, and has a history dating back more than 50 years.

Per correspondent an expert, with extensive experience documenting criminal activity in the city extensively, the criminal organization "operates like a franchise" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and acting as "operational allies".

The organization concentrates largely on illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking weapons, valuable minerals, energy resources, alcohol cigarettes.

Per law enforcement statements, organization members are well armed and authorities stated that during the raid, they encountered resistance using drone-delivered explosives.

The official of Rio state, the government representative, described Red Command members as "narcoterrorists" and described the law enforcement personnel fatally injured in the action as brave public servants.

However, the count of fatalities in the security action has come in for criticism from UN human rights officials stating they were "appalled".

During a press briefing the next day, the state leader defended the police force.

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

He further explained that the events intensified as the individuals fought back: "It occurred of the resistance they executed and the disproportionate use of force by those criminals."

The official additionally stated that the bodies presented by community members in the neighborhood were "altered".

Via a statement through digital channels, he said that particular individuals had been taken of the camouflage clothing that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation to security forces".

Felipe Curi of Rio's civil police force additionally stated that military attire, body armor, and arms" were taken away from the casualties and presented video seemingly depicting a person removing tactical gear {off a corpse