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Bruno Itan

A reporter who observed the results of a massive Brazilian police operation in the Brazilian city has described how local people returned with mutilated bodies of those who had died.

The victims "kept coming: the numbers kept rising", the eyewitness stated. Among them were those of police officers.

One individual was discovered headless - others were "severely damaged", he said. Several bodies showed evidence of stab wounds.

Over 120 individuals lost their lives in the Tuesday operation against a criminal group - the deadliest such raid the municipality has seen.

The eyewitness explained that he was first alerted concerning the action early on Tuesday by local people of the Alemão neighbourhood, who reached out telling him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The photographer went to a local medical facility, where the bodies were being brought.

Itan explained that law enforcement blocked media personnel from accessing the Penha neighborhood, where the police action was under way.

"Security forces created a barrier and said: 'Journalists doesn't get past here'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who spent his childhood in the area, stated he was able to gain access into the restricted zone, where he stayed until the next morning.

He explained that evening, community members started looking the mountainous area that borders the Penha neighborhood from the adjacent Alemão area for family members who had been missing after the operation.

Residents of the Penha neighbourhood proceeded to place the located casualties in a public space - and Itan's photos show the reaction of those present.

"The brutality of it all affected me profoundly: the sorrow of relatives, parents losing consciousness, women carrying children, sobbing, furious relatives," the photographer recalled.

The eyewitness

The official of Rio state announced that the extensive law enforcement effort involving around 2,500 law enforcement members was designed to preventing a gang known as Red Command from growing their influence.

Initially, the Rio state government stated that "60 suspects plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed in the raid.

Officials subsequently stated that initial estimates suggests that 117 alleged criminals were fatally injured.

The public legal service, that offers legal help to low-income residents, has put the overall count of casualties at 132.

Per investigative findings, Red Command stands as the sole illegal faction which in recent years has succeeded to expand its territory throughout Rio state.

It is generally regarded one of the two largest gangs in Brazil, together with a rival criminal group, and has a history spanning over five decades.

Based on Brazilian journalist a specialist, who has long reported on illegal operations in Rio extensively, the gang "operates like a franchise" with neighborhood bosses forming part of the gang and serving as "business partners".

The criminal group focuses mainly on drug trafficking, but also smuggles firearms, valuable minerals, fuel, liquor and tobacco.

Based on official reports, gang members possess significant weaponry and police said that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The official of the state, the political leader, described Red Command members as "narcoterrorists" and called the four police officers who died during the operation as brave public servants.

However, the count of people killed in the operation has faced scrutiny with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressing they felt "horrified".

During a press briefing the next day, the official supported law enforcement.

"It wasn't our intention to cause fatalities. We intended to detain everyone safely," he stated.

He continued that the circumstances worsened as the individuals resisted aggressively: "It was a consequence of the resistance they carried out and the excessive violence from the gang members."

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

In a post through digital channels, he claimed that particular individuals had been stripped of tactical gear which he claimed they wore "to redirect responsibility to security forces".

A law enforcement representative of Rio's civil police force additionally stated that tactical gear, protective equipment, and arms" had been removed from the casualties and presented video seemingly depicting a man cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse