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Bruno Itan

A reporter who witnessed the results of a large-scale security raid in the Brazilian city has recounted how local people returned with badly injured victims of the deceased individuals.

The casualties "kept coming: the numbers kept rising", Bruno Itan stated. They included law enforcement personnel.

One individual was found without a head - others were "totally disfigured", he explained. Numerous victims displayed what he described as stab wounds.

Over 120 individuals were killed during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang - the bloodiest action in the city.

The eyewitness stated that he was first alerted to the raid early on Tuesday by local people from the Alemão area, who sent him messages telling him there was a shoot-out.

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

The photographer stated that security forces prevented journalists from going into the affected area, where the police action were taking place.

"Police officers created a barrier and declared: 'Media representatives are not allowed to pass'."

However, the photographer, who was raised in the community, reported he was able to gain access into the restricted zone, where he stayed until dawn.

He reported that Tuesday night, local residents started looking the elevated terrain which divides the community of Penha and the neighboring Alemão community for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Local people living in Penha proceeded to place the recovered bodies in a square - and Itan's photos reveal the response of the people there.

"The harsh reality of it all shook me deeply: the pain of the families, parents losing consciousness, women carrying children, crying, outraged parents," the photographer recalled.

The eyewitness

The official of the region declared that the large-scale security action with approximately 2,500 officers was aimed at stopping a criminal group referred to as Comando Vermelho from growing their influence.

Originally, state authorities stated that sixty individuals and four police officers" were fatally injured in the raid.

Officials subsequently stated that early calculations shows that 117 alleged criminals were fatally injured.

The public legal service, that gives legal support to low-income residents, has estimated the overall count of fatalities to be 132.

Based on expert analysis, the gang is the only criminal group that recently has succeeded to increase its control in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

It is widely considered among the biggest criminal organizations nationally, alongside a rival criminal group, with a background spanning over five decades.

Based on correspondent an expert, who has long reported on crime in Rio extensively, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and serving as "operational allies".

The organization concentrates largely on illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking firearms, valuable minerals, petroleum products, liquor smoking products.

Per law enforcement statements, criminal affiliates are well armed and officials reported that during the raid, they faced assaults using drone-delivered explosives.

The governor of the state, the political leader, described organization participants as drug terrorists and referred to the law enforcement personnel who died during the operation as courageous individuals.

However, the count of people killed in the operation has faced scrutiny from international human rights authorities stating they were "horrified".

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

"There was no objective to result in deaths. We aimed to take suspects into custody without harm," he stated.

He continued that the situation worsened due to the alleged criminals fought back: "It resulted of the resistance they carried out and the overwhelming response by those criminals."

The state leader further reported that the victims presented by community members in Penha were "altered".

In a post through digital channels, he claimed that some of them had been taken of tactical gear which he claimed they wore "in order to shift blame onto the police".

A law enforcement representative from the police department also said that tactical gear, vests, and arms" had been removed from the bodies and showed footage apparently demonstrating an individual cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse