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The photographer

A reporter who witnessed the aftermath of a large-scale security raid in the Brazilian city has reported how community members brought back mutilated bodies of those who had died.

The casualties "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer reported. The total contained law enforcement personnel.

One of the bodies was discovered headless - additional victims were "severely damaged", he reported. Numerous victims displayed what appeared to be blade trauma.

In excess of 120 victims were killed during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang - the deadliest such raid Rio has experienced.

The eyewitness stated that residents first notified him concerning the action Tuesday morning by local people living in Alemão, who contacted him informing him gunfire had erupted.

The photographer went to the healthcare center, where the casualties were coming in.

The eyewitness reported that law enforcement prevented journalists from entering the operation zone, where the operation were taking place.

"Police officers created a barrier and said: 'The press doesn't get past here'."

But Itan, who was raised in the area, stated he managed to gain access into the cordoned-off area, where he continued until dawn.

He reported that Tuesday night, area inhabitants started looking the hillside that separates the community of Penha and the neighboring Alemão community for relatives who were unaccounted for after the operation.

Community members of the Penha neighbourhood arranged the recovered bodies in a public space - the documented evidence show the emotions of those present.

"The harsh reality of it all impacted me a lot: the grief of relatives, mothers fainting, expectant spouses, weeping, angry family members," the photographer recalled.

Bruno Itan

The official of the state declared that the large-scale security action with approximately 2,500 security personnel was designed to preventing a criminal group known as Red Command from increasing their control.

Originally, state authorities stated that "60 suspects plus four law enforcement personnel" lost their lives during the action.

They have since said that their "preliminary" count indicates that 117 "suspects" lost their lives.

Rio's public defender's office, that gives legal support to disadvantaged individuals, has estimated the total number of casualties at 132.

Per investigative findings, Red Command stands as the sole illegal faction that in the past few years has managed to expand its territory across the region.

It is widely considered as a major illegal faction in the country, together with a rival criminal group, with a background extending half a century.

According to correspondent a specialist, with extensive experience documenting criminal activity in the city extensively, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with neighborhood bosses affiliating with the group and acting as "business partners".

The gang concentrates largely on narcotics distribution, but also smuggles guns, gold, fuel, beverages cigarettes.

According to the authorities, organization members are well armed and police said that while the action was underway, they came under attack from explosive-laden drones.

The governor of Rio state, Cláudio Castro, labeled gang affiliates as "narcoterrorists" and referred to the security forces killed in the raid as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of casualties during the raid has received condemnation from international human rights authorities stating they were "appalled".

During a press briefing the following day, the official justified security actions.

"There was no objective to cause fatalities. We aimed to arrest them all alive," he said.

He added that the circumstances had escalated as the individuals had retaliated: "It resulted of the retaliation they implemented and the disproportionate use of force from the gang members."

The state leader further reported that the casualties shown by residents in the neighborhood had been "tampered with".

Through a message on online platforms, he said that certain victims had been taken of military-style attire that he stated they possessed "to redirect responsibility onto the police".

A law enforcement representative from the police department additionally stated that "camouflage clothing, protective equipment, and firearms" were stripped from the casualties and displayed evidence seemingly depicting a man stripping military attire {off a corpse