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The eyewitness

A reporter who documented the consequences of a large-scale security raid in the Brazilian city has recounted how residents brought back badly injured victims of people who lost their lives.

The bodies "kept coming: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the eyewitness reported. The total contained law enforcement personnel.

One of the bodies was discovered headless - additional victims were "completely mutilated", he reported. Many also had what he described as blade trauma.

Over 120 individuals were killed during the security action on a criminal gang - the most lethal operation Rio has experienced.

The eyewitness explained that he initially learned concerning the action early on Tuesday by residents from the Alemão area, who contacted him alerting him gunfire had erupted.

The photographer traveled to a local medical facility, where the bodies were coming in.

The photographer stated that the police stopped members of the press from entering the affected area, where the security measures was under way.

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

But Itan, who was raised in that neighborhood, reported he managed to gain access into the cordoned-off area, where he continued through the night.

He described that evening, local residents started looking the hillside that borders the community of Penha and the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for family members who had been missing after the operation.

Community members from the Penha area proceeded to place the discovered victims in a square - and Itan's photos reveal the reaction of the gathered crowd.

"The violence of the situation affected me deeply: the grief of loved ones, mothers fainting, expectant spouses, crying, angry family members," the reporter recounted.

The eyewitness

The official of the region declared that the extensive law enforcement effort with approximately 2,500 security personnel was designed to stopping a gang referred to as the criminal faction from growing their influence.

At first, state authorities stated that sixty alleged criminals and four police officers" had been killed in the operation.

Officials subsequently stated that their "preliminary" count indicates that 117 alleged criminals were fatally injured.

The public legal service, that offers legal help to the poor, has calculated the overall count of fatalities as 132.

Based on expert analysis, Red Command stands as the sole illegal faction that recently has managed to increase its control throughout Rio state.

It is generally regarded as a major illegal faction in the country, together with another major gang, and has a history dating back more than 50 years.

Based on correspondent a specialist, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio for years, Red Command "functions as a network" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and becoming "business partners".

The criminal group concentrates largely on illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking firearms, gold, petroleum products, beverages cigarettes.

Per law enforcement statements, criminal affiliates have substantial firearms and officials reported that while the action was underway, they came under attack using drone-delivered explosives.

The state leader of the state, Cláudio Castro, labeled Red Command members as "narcoterrorists" and called the security forces fatally injured in the action as brave public servants.

However, the count of casualties in the operation has faced scrutiny from UN human rights officials expressing they felt "appalled".

During a press briefing on Wednesday, the official defended the police force.

"We did not plan to kill anyone. We wanted to take suspects into custody without harm," he said.

He added that the situation had escalated due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It occurred of the retaliation they implemented and the disproportionate use of force by the illegal group."

The official also said that the bodies shown by residents in Penha were "altered".

Through a message on social media, he said that particular individuals had been taken of tactical gear which he claimed they wore "to transfer accusation to security forces".

A law enforcement representative representing security forces additionally stated that military attire, body armor, and weapons" were taken away from the bodies and showed footage seemingly depicting a man removing tactical gear {off a corpse