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The photographer

An eyewitness who observed the consequences of a massive law enforcement action in Rio de Janeiro has described how residents returned with disfigured remains of people who lost their lives.

The casualties "kept piling up: the count kept increasing", the photographer described. The total contained law enforcement personnel.

One individual was found without a head - while others appeared "completely mutilated", he explained. Several bodies showed evidence of stab wounds.

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

The photographer reported that he was first alerted concerning the action in the early hours by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who contacted him telling him there was a shoot-out.

The reporter went to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the victims were coming in.

Itan explained that security forces blocked media personnel from going into the Penha neighborhood, where the security measures were taking place.

"Security forces formed a line and declared: 'The press are not allowed to pass'."

But Itan, who was raised in the community, explained he was able to make his way into the cordoned-off area, where he continued until the next morning.

He described that evening, community members started looking the hillside that separates Penha from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for relatives who had been missing since the police raid.

Community members of the Penha neighbourhood proceeded to place the located casualties in a public space - the photographer's images reveal the reaction of the gathered crowd.

"The harsh reality of it all shook me deeply: the grief of loved ones, women collapsing, expectant spouses, crying, furious relatives," the eyewitness remembered.

Bruno Itan

The official of the region declared that the massive police operation involving around 2,500 security personnel was aimed at halting a criminal group referred to as Red Command from growing their influence.

At first, state authorities claimed that sixty individuals and four police officers" had been killed during the action.

Officials subsequently stated that early calculations suggests that 117 alleged criminals have been killed.

The public legal service, which provides legal assistance to low-income residents, has calculated the final tally of people killed as 132.

According to researchers, the gang is the only criminal group that recently has succeeded to make territorial gains throughout Rio state.

It is widely considered among the biggest criminal organizations nationally, alongside First Capital Command, with a background spanning over five decades.

According to Brazilian journalist an expert, who has long reported on crime in Rio for years, the criminal organization "operates like a franchise" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and becoming "commercial associates".

The organization focuses mainly on illegal drug trade, while also dealing in firearms, gold, fuel, beverages cigarettes.

Per law enforcement statements, organization members are well armed and officials reported that while the action was underway, they came under attack using drone-delivered explosives.

The governor of Rio state, the government representative, characterized Red Command members as drug terrorists and referred to the law enforcement personnel fatally injured in the action as "heroes".

However, the count of casualties during the raid has received condemnation from international human rights authorities expressing they felt "appalled".

At a news conference the following day, the official justified security actions.

"It wasn't our intention to cause fatalities. We intended to take suspects into custody without harm," he stated.

He continued that the circumstances had escalated due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It resulted of the retaliation they executed and the disproportionate use of force from the gang members."

The governor further reported that the bodies presented by community members in Penha had been "manipulated".

In a post on social media, he claimed that some of them had been taken of military-style attire he said they had been wearing "to redirect responsibility to security forces".

A police official from the police department additionally stated that "camouflage clothing, vests, and firearms" had been removed from the victims and showed footage apparently demonstrating a man stripping military attire {off a corpse