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The photographer

A photographer who observed the aftermath of an extensive security raid in the metropolitan area has described how community members came back with mutilated bodies of the deceased individuals.

The victims "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the eyewitness reported. They included law enforcement personnel.

A particular victim had been decapitated - while others appeared "severely damaged", he said. Several bodies showed what appeared to be knife injuries.

Over 120 individuals were fatally injured in the Tuesday operation targeting an illegal organization - the deadliest such raid Rio has experienced.

Bruno Itan reported that he was first alerted concerning the action Tuesday morning by local people living in Alemão, who contacted him alerting him there was a shoot-out.

The reporter made his way to the healthcare center, where the bodies were being brought.

The photographer stated that security forces prevented journalists from entering the Penha neighborhood, where the security measures were occurring.

"Security forces established a perimeter and announced: 'Media representatives are not allowed to pass'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who grew up in the area, explained he managed to gain access into the cordoned-off area, where he continued until dawn.

He reported that evening, community members began to search the elevated terrain which divides the community of Penha and the neighboring Alemão community for family members whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Residents of the Penha neighbourhood arranged the located casualties in a public space - the photographer's images display the emotions of the gathered crowd.

"The harsh reality of what occurred affected me profoundly: the sorrow of relatives, mothers fainting, women carrying children, sobbing, outraged parents," the reporter recounted.

Bruno Itan

The official of Rio state declared that the large-scale security action deploying about 2,500 law enforcement members was aimed at halting a gang called Comando Vermelho from expanding its territory.

Originally, local officials stated that "60 suspects and four police officers" lost their lives during the action.

Officials subsequently stated that initial estimates indicates that 117 alleged criminals have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, which provides legal assistance to the poor, has estimated the total number of fatalities as 132.

Based on expert analysis, the criminal organization is the only criminal group that recently has succeeded to increase its control throughout Rio state.

It is widely considered among the biggest criminal organizations in the country, together with a rival criminal group, featuring a timeline dating back more than 50 years.

According to Brazilian journalist Rafael Soares, who has long reported on crime in Rio extensively, the gang "functions as a network" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and acting as "business partners".

The criminal group concentrates largely on narcotics distribution, while also dealing in guns, precious metals, fuel, alcohol and tobacco.

Based on official reports, organization members are well armed and officials reported that while the action was underway, they came under attack from explosive-laden drones.

The state leader of the state, the political leader, labeled organization participants as drug terrorists and called the security forces fatally injured in the action as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of fatalities in the operation has faced scrutiny from UN human rights officials stating they were "shocked".

In a media appearance the following day, Governor Castro supported law enforcement.

"It wasn't our intention to result in deaths. We wanted to take suspects into custody without harm," he said.

He added that the events had escalated because the suspects fought back: "It was a consequence of the counterattack they executed and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The governor additionally stated that the casualties presented by community members in the neighborhood were "altered".

Through a message through digital channels, he asserted that some of them had been taken of tactical gear he said they had been wearing "to redirect responsibility toward law enforcement".

A law enforcement representative from the police department also said that tactical gear, vests, and weapons" had been removed from the bodies and presented video apparently demonstrating a person stripping military attire {off a corpse