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The eyewitness

A reporter who observed the consequences of a massive security raid in Rio de Janeiro has recounted how residents brought back disfigured remains of those who had died.

The victims "kept coming: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", Bruno Itan stated. They included security forces.

One of the bodies was found without a head - others were "severely damaged", he explained. Many also had what appeared to be stab wounds.

More than 120 people lost their lives in the Tuesday operation on a criminal gang - the bloodiest action in the city.

The photographer explained that he initially learned to the raid Tuesday morning by residents from the Alemão area, who reached out alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

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

The eyewitness reported that security forces prevented journalists from going into the affected area, where the operation were occurring.

"Law enforcement personnel created a barrier and said: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who grew up in the community, explained he managed to enter into the restricted zone, where he remained through the night.

He reported that evening, community members began to search the elevated terrain which divides Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Community members living in Penha organized the recovered bodies in an open area - the documented evidence reveal the emotions of the gathered crowd.

"The harsh reality of what occurred affected me profoundly: the grief of relatives, mothers fainting, women carrying children, sobbing, outraged parents," the photographer recalled.

The eyewitness

The state leader of the state announced that the massive police operation with approximately 2,500 law enforcement members was designed to stopping a criminal group called Red Command from expanding its territory.

Originally, local officials maintained that "60 suspects and four police officers" had been killed in the raid.

Authorities later reported that their "preliminary" count suggests that 117 individuals were fatally injured.

The legal assistance organization, that gives legal support to the poor, has calculated the final tally of fatalities at 132.

According to researchers, Red Command is the only criminal group that in the past few years has succeeded to expand its territory in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

It is generally regarded among the biggest criminal organizations in Brazil, in company with another major gang, and has a history extending half a century.

Based on Brazilian journalist Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio for years, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and becoming "operational allies".

The criminal group engages primarily in narcotics distribution, while also dealing in guns, precious metals, petroleum products, liquor smoking products.

According to the authorities, gang members are well armed and officials reported that while the action was underway, they came under attack from explosive-laden drones.

The official of the state, the government representative, described gang affiliates as drug terrorists and called the security forces who died during the operation as "heroes".

But the number of people killed in the security action has come in for criticism from international human rights authorities saying it was "shocked".

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

"There was no objective to result in deaths. We aimed to detain everyone safely," he declared.

He further explained that the situation worsened because the suspects had retaliated: "It occurred of the resistance they executed and the excessive violence from the gang members."

The governor additionally stated that the casualties presented by community members in the area had been "manipulated".

Via a statement through digital channels, he said that particular individuals had been stripped of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation onto the police".

A law enforcement representative representing security forces additionally stated that military attire, vests, and arms" had been removed from the victims and displayed evidence seemingly depicting an individual cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse