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The eyewitness

A reporter who observed the aftermath of a large-scale Brazilian police operation in the Brazilian city has described how community members brought back mutilated bodies of people who lost their lives.

The victims "continued arriving: the count kept increasing", Bruno Itan stated. Among them were those of police officers.

One individual was discovered headless - others were "completely mutilated", he explained. Many also had what he described as knife injuries.

More than 120 people were fatally injured during the security action on a criminal gang - the bloodiest action in the city.

Bruno Itan stated that he initially learned concerning the action Tuesday morning by community members living in Alemão, who reached out informing him there was a shoot-out.

The eyewitness went to the healthcare center, where the bodies were being brought.

The eyewitness reported that the police blocked media personnel from entering the affected area, where the operation were occurring.

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

However, the photographer, who grew up in the area, stated he managed to make his way into the restricted zone, where he continued until the next morning.

He explained during the night, local residents began to search the mountainous area that separates Penha from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for loved ones whose whereabouts were unknown after the operation.

Local people of the Penha neighbourhood arranged the discovered victims in a public space - the photographer's images show the response of those present.

"The brutality of what occurred shook me deeply: the sorrow of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, expectant spouses, sobbing, outraged parents," the reporter recounted.

The photographer

The state leader of Rio state stated that the massive police operation involving around 2,500 law enforcement members was intended to preventing an illegal organization known as Red Command from increasing their control.

At first, local officials claimed that sixty alleged criminals plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed during the action.

Authorities later reported that initial estimates indicates that 117 individuals have been killed.

The legal assistance organization, which provides legal assistance to disadvantaged individuals, has estimated the overall count of fatalities at 132.

Per investigative findings, the gang represents the unique criminal entity that in the past few years has managed to increase its control across the region.

It is generally regarded one of the two largest gangs nationally, alongside another major gang, with a background spanning over five decades.

Based on Brazilian journalist Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting crime in Rio over many years, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and serving as "commercial associates".

The gang concentrates largely on illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking firearms, gold, energy resources, beverages and tobacco.

Per law enforcement statements, criminal affiliates possess significant weaponry and officials reported that during the raid, they faced assaults using drone-delivered explosives.

The state leader of Rio state, the government representative, labeled gang affiliates as "narcoterrorists" and referred to the law enforcement personnel fatally injured in the action as courageous individuals.

However, the count of fatalities during the raid has faced scrutiny with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stating they were "horrified".

During a press briefing on Wednesday, Governor Castro justified security actions.

"There was no objective to cause fatalities. We aimed to take suspects into custody without harm," he said.

He added that the situation intensified because the suspects resisted aggressively: "It was a consequence of the counterattack they carried out and the disproportionate use of force by those criminals."

The state leader further reported that the bodies presented by community members in the neighborhood had been "manipulated".

Via a statement on online platforms, he claimed that particular individuals had been removed of the camouflage clothing he said they had been wearing "in order to shift blame onto the police".

A police official of Rio's civil police force further reported that "camouflage clothing, protective equipment, and firearms" were stripped from the casualties and displayed evidence appearing to show an individual removing tactical gear {off a corpse