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Bruno Itan

A reporter who observed the aftermath of a large-scale law enforcement action in the metropolitan area has recounted how community members returned with disfigured remains of the deceased individuals.

The victims "kept coming: the count kept increasing", Bruno Itan reported. The total contained law enforcement personnel.

A particular victim had been decapitated - others were "totally disfigured", he explained. Numerous victims displayed evidence of stab wounds.

Over 120 individuals were killed during the security action against a criminal group - the most lethal operation the municipality has seen.

Bruno Itan stated that residents first notified him concerning the action Tuesday morning by residents from the Alemão area, who contacted him telling him there was a shoot-out.

The photographer traveled to the healthcare center, where the casualties were coming in.

The photographer stated that security forces prevented journalists from accessing the operation zone, where the operation was under way.

"Law enforcement personnel formed a line and declared: 'The press cannot proceed beyond this point'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who grew up in the community, explained he managed to gain access into the cordoned-off area, where he remained until the next morning.

He explained that Tuesday night, local residents commenced searching the mountainous area that separates the community of Penha and the neighboring Alemão community for family members who were unaccounted for after the operation.

Local people from the Penha area organized the located casualties in a public space - the documented evidence reveal the response of those present.

"The brutality of it all shook me a lot: the grief of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, expectant spouses, crying, outraged parents," the eyewitness remembered.

The photographer

The state leader of the state stated that the large-scale security action with approximately 2,500 officers was aimed at halting a criminal group known as Red Command from increasing their control.

At first, state authorities claimed that "60 suspects plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed in the operation.

Authorities later reported that early calculations suggests that 117 "suspects" have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, that gives legal support to the poor, has estimated the final tally of people killed as 132.

According to researchers, the gang stands as the sole illegal faction that recently has succeeded to expand its territory throughout Rio state.

It is widely considered among the biggest criminal organizations in the country, together with a rival criminal group, with a background extending half a century.

Per reporter Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting crime in Rio extensively, the gang "works as a system" with local criminal leaders affiliating with the group and serving as "commercial associates".

The organization concentrates largely on illegal drug trade, while also dealing in weapons, precious metals, energy resources, liquor cigarettes.

Based on official reports, criminal affiliates possess significant weaponry and officials reported that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The state leader of Rio state, the government representative, labeled gang affiliates as "narcoterrorists" and described the law enforcement personnel who died during the operation as "heroes".

Nevertheless, the total of fatalities in the operation has come in for criticism from UN human rights officials stating they were "horrified".

In a media appearance the next day, the official justified security actions.

"We did not plan to cause fatalities. We aimed to take suspects into custody without harm," he declared.

He continued that the situation had escalated due to the alleged criminals fought back: "It resulted of the retaliation they implemented and the disproportionate use of force by those criminals."

The governor additionally stated that the victims shown by residents in Penha had been "manipulated".

Via a statement on social media, he asserted that some of them had been stripped of military-style attire that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation onto the police".

A police official representing security forces also said that tactical gear, body armor, and firearms" had been removed from the casualties and displayed evidence appearing to show a man removing tactical gear {off a corpse