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The photographer

A photographer who observed the consequences of a massive law enforcement action in the metropolitan area has recounted how residents came back with mutilated bodies of people who lost their lives.

The victims "kept coming: the count kept increasing", the photographer stated. The total contained those of police officers.

A particular victim was discovered headless - additional victims were "completely mutilated", he explained. Numerous victims displayed what appeared to be knife injuries.

In excess of 120 victims were killed during the security action against a criminal group - the most lethal operation in the city.

The photographer explained that he was first alerted concerning the action in the early hours by residents living in Alemão, who reached out alerting him gunfire had erupted.

The eyewitness went to a local medical facility, where the casualties were arriving.

The eyewitness reported that security forces prevented journalists from accessing the operation zone, where the operation were taking place.

"Security forces created a barrier and said: 'Journalists cannot proceed beyond this point'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who spent his childhood in the community, reported he succeeded to make his way past the security perimeter, where he continued through the night.

He described that evening, community members commenced searching the mountainous area which divides the community of Penha and the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown since the police raid.

Residents of the Penha neighbourhood proceeded to place the recovered bodies in an open area - the documented evidence display the emotions of the gathered crowd.

"The harsh reality of what occurred shook me deeply: the sorrow of the families, parents losing consciousness, expectant spouses, weeping, outraged parents," the reporter recounted.

Bruno Itan

The state leader of the region declared that the extensive law enforcement effort with approximately 2,500 officers was intended to preventing an illegal organization referred to as the criminal faction from growing their influence.

Originally, local officials maintained that sixty alleged criminals plus four law enforcement personnel" lost their lives in the raid.

Authorities later reported that initial estimates suggests that 117 "suspects" have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, which provides legal assistance to disadvantaged individuals, has estimated the final tally of casualties as 132.

Based on expert analysis, the gang stands as the sole illegal faction that recently has been able to increase its control throughout Rio state.

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

Per correspondent an expert, with extensive experience documenting crime in Rio for years, Red Command "operates like a franchise" with neighborhood bosses affiliating with the group and becoming "operational allies".

The gang concentrates largely on illegal drug trade, but also smuggles weapons, gold, petroleum products, liquor and tobacco.

Based on official reports, criminal affiliates have substantial firearms and police said that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The official of the state, Cláudio Castro, described organization participants as criminal extremists and called the four police officers who died during the operation as "heroes".

But the number of people killed in the operation has received condemnation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressing they felt "shocked".

In a media appearance on Wednesday, the state leader justified security actions.

"We did not plan to kill anyone. We aimed to detain everyone safely," he said.

He further explained that the situation intensified due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the retaliation they executed and the disproportionate use of force from the gang members."

The official additionally stated that the casualties presented by community members in the neighborhood were "altered".

Through a message on social media, he said that certain victims had been removed of military-style attire he said they had been wearing "to transfer accusation toward law enforcement".

Felipe Curi from the police department additionally stated that tactical gear, protective equipment, and firearms" had been removed from the casualties and showed footage appearing to show a man removing tactical gear {off a corpse