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The eyewitness

An eyewitness who observed the consequences of an extensive law enforcement action in Rio de Janeiro has described how local people came back with disfigured remains of those who had died.

The victims "kept coming: the count kept increasing", the eyewitness reported. They included those of police officers.

One of the bodies was discovered headless - while others appeared "completely mutilated", he explained. Many also had what he described as blade trauma.

Over 120 individuals were killed in the Tuesday operation against a criminal group - the most lethal operation Rio has experienced.

The photographer explained that he was first alerted concerning the action Tuesday morning by community members of the Alemão neighbourhood, who contacted him alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The photographer went to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the casualties were being brought.

Itan explained that the police prevented journalists from accessing the affected area, where the security measures were taking place.

"Security forces formed a line and announced: 'Journalists doesn't get past here'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who grew up in that neighborhood, explained he was able to enter past the security perimeter, where he remained until dawn.

He described that Tuesday night, local residents began to search the elevated terrain which divides Penha from the adjacent Alemão area for relatives who were unaccounted for since the police raid.

Residents living in Penha proceeded to place the located casualties in a public space - the photographer's images display the reaction of the people there.

"The violence of the situation shook me deeply: the grief of the families, women collapsing, pregnant wives, weeping, angry family members," the reporter recounted.

Bruno Itan

The state leader of Rio state declared that the large-scale security action deploying about 2,500 law enforcement members was aimed at preventing a gang called Red Command from increasing their control.

Initially, the Rio state government claimed that "60 suspects and four police officers" lost their lives in the raid.

Officials subsequently stated that their "preliminary" count indicates that 117 alleged criminals lost their lives.

Rio's public defender's office, which provides legal assistance to low-income residents, has calculated the final tally of people killed as 132.

Based on expert analysis, the criminal organization stands as the sole illegal faction that in the past few years has succeeded to expand its territory across the region.

Experts commonly view as a major illegal faction nationally, alongside a rival criminal group, and has a history spanning over five decades.

According to Brazilian journalist a specialist, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio extensively, the gang "works as a system" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and serving as "business partners".

The criminal group engages primarily in drug trafficking, additionally trafficking weapons, valuable minerals, energy resources, beverages and tobacco.

Based on official reports, organization members have substantial firearms and police said that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The official of the state, the political leader, labeled organization participants as "narcoterrorists" and called the law enforcement personnel killed in the raid as "heroes".

But the number of people killed in the operation has faced scrutiny from international human rights authorities expressing they felt "shocked".

At a news conference on Wednesday, the state leader defended the police force.

"There was no objective to cause fatalities. We intended to detain everyone safely," he stated.

He further explained that the circumstances worsened due to the alleged criminals fought back: "It resulted of the resistance they executed and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The official additionally stated that the bodies presented by community members in the area were "altered".

Through a message on online platforms, he claimed that particular individuals had been stripped of tactical gear which he claimed they wore "to transfer accusation to security forces".

Felipe Curi from the police department further reported that tactical gear, vests, and weapons" were taken away from the casualties and showed footage seemingly depicting a person stripping military attire {off a corpse