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The eyewitness

A reporter who witnessed the consequences of a massive law enforcement action in the metropolitan area has recounted how community members brought back disfigured remains of the deceased individuals.

The casualties "kept coming: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer stated. Among them were security forces.

A particular victim had been decapitated - additional victims were "completely mutilated", he explained. Several bodies showed what appeared to be blade trauma.

Over 120 individuals were fatally injured during the security action against a criminal group - the bloodiest action Rio has experienced.

Bruno Itan reported that he initially learned to the raid Tuesday morning by residents from the Alemão area, who contacted him alerting him gunfire had erupted.

The photographer traveled to the healthcare center, where the bodies were arriving.

The photographer stated that law enforcement blocked media personnel from accessing the affected area, where the security measures were taking place.

"Police officers formed a line and declared: 'The press doesn't get past here'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who was raised in the area, explained he managed to gain access past the security perimeter, where he continued through the night.

He reported that evening, local residents began to search the elevated terrain that separates the Penha neighborhood from the neighboring Alemão community for family members who were unaccounted for since the police raid.

Local people from the Penha area arranged the recovered bodies in an open area - the documented evidence display the emotions of the people there.

"The brutality of what occurred shook me a lot: the pain of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, pregnant wives, sobbing, furious relatives," the photographer recalled.

The eyewitness

The official of the region announced that the extensive law enforcement effort with approximately 2,500 security personnel was designed to preventing a criminal group called Comando Vermelho from increasing their control.

Originally, the Rio state government claimed that sixty alleged criminals along with four officers" had been killed in the operation.

Officials subsequently stated that initial estimates suggests that 117 alleged criminals lost their lives.

The legal assistance organization, that offers legal help to low-income residents, has calculated the final tally of casualties at 132.

According to researchers, the gang is the only criminal group that in the past few years has managed to increase its control throughout Rio state.

It is generally regarded one of the two largest gangs in the country, alongside a rival criminal group, featuring a timeline dating back more than 50 years.

Based on correspondent a specialist, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio over many years, the gang "functions as a network" with area gang leaders joining the organization and serving as "business partners".

The criminal group concentrates largely on illegal drug trade, but also smuggles weapons, precious metals, petroleum products, beverages and tobacco.

According to the authorities, gang members are well armed and officials reported that throughout the operation, they came under attack via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The state leader of the state, Cláudio Castro, described organization participants as criminal extremists and referred to the four police officers who died during the operation as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of fatalities in the operation has faced scrutiny with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights saying it was "horrified".

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

"It wasn't our intention to kill anyone. We intended to take suspects into custody without harm," he declared.

He further explained that the situation intensified because the suspects had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the retaliation they implemented and the overwhelming response by the illegal group."

The governor further reported that the casualties displayed by locals in the neighborhood had been "manipulated".

Through a message on online platforms, he asserted that certain victims had been taken of the camouflage clothing which he claimed they wore "in order to shift blame toward law enforcement".

A law enforcement representative from the police department further reported that military attire, protective equipment, and firearms" had been removed from the bodies and showed footage apparently demonstrating a man cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse