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The eyewitness

A reporter who observed the aftermath of a massive security raid in the Brazilian city has described how residents brought back disfigured remains of people who lost their lives.

The bodies "continued arriving: the numbers kept rising", Bruno Itan stated. Among them were law enforcement personnel.

One of the bodies was found without a head - while others appeared "totally disfigured", he said. Many also had what appeared to be stab wounds.

In excess of 120 victims lost their lives in the Tuesday operation targeting an illegal organization - the deadliest such raid Rio has experienced.

The photographer stated that residents first notified him about the operation early on Tuesday by community members living in Alemão, who reached out alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The reporter made his way to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the bodies were coming in.

The photographer stated that law enforcement prevented journalists from going into the affected area, where the security measures were occurring.

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

But Itan, who was raised in the area, explained he succeeded to make his way into the restricted zone, where he continued until dawn.

He reported during the night, area inhabitants commenced searching the elevated terrain which divides the Penha neighborhood from the neighboring Alemão community for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown since the police raid.

Local people living in Penha proceeded to place the recovered bodies in an open area - and Itan's photos display the emotions of the people there.

"The harsh reality of what occurred shook me profoundly: the pain of loved ones, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, sobbing, furious relatives," the eyewitness remembered.

The eyewitness

The official of the region declared that the large-scale security action deploying about 2,500 officers was intended to preventing an illegal organization called the criminal faction from increasing their control.

Initially, the Rio state government stated that sixty individuals along with four officers" lost their lives in the raid.

Officials subsequently stated that their "preliminary" count shows that 117 "suspects" were fatally injured.

The legal assistance organization, which provides legal assistance to disadvantaged individuals, has calculated the overall count of casualties as 132.

Based on expert analysis, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity that in the past few years has been able to make territorial gains across the region.

It is generally regarded as a major illegal faction in the country, together with a rival criminal group, with a background spanning over five decades.

Per reporter a specialist, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio for years, the gang "functions as a network" with neighborhood bosses joining the organization and serving as "commercial associates".

The gang concentrates largely on narcotics distribution, but also smuggles guns, gold, energy resources, beverages and tobacco.

According to the authorities, criminal affiliates are well armed and police said that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The official of the region, Cláudio Castro, described Red Command members as criminal extremists and described the security forces killed in the raid as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of people killed during the raid has come in for criticism from international human rights authorities saying it was "shocked".

At a news conference the following day, the state leader supported law enforcement.

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

He continued that the events intensified due to the alleged criminals fought back: "It was a consequence of the resistance they carried out and the disproportionate use of force from the gang members."

The governor additionally stated that the victims displayed by locals in the neighborhood had been "manipulated".

Via a statement on online platforms, he said that certain victims had been taken of military-style attire that he stated they possessed "to redirect responsibility toward law enforcement".

Felipe Curi of Rio's civil police force additionally stated that military attire, body armor, and firearms" had been removed from the victims and presented video appearing to show an individual removing tactical gear {off a corpse