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Bruno Itan

A reporter who observed the aftermath of a massive security raid in the metropolitan area has recounted how community members returned with mutilated bodies of people who lost their lives.

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

One individual was discovered headless - others were "severely damaged", he reported. Many also had what appeared to be stab wounds.

Over 120 individuals were killed in the Tuesday operation targeting an illegal organization - the most lethal operation the municipality has seen.

Bruno Itan explained that he initially learned concerning the action Tuesday morning by community members from the Alemão area, who reached out informing him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The photographer made his way to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the bodies were arriving.

The eyewitness reported that security forces blocked media personnel from going into the Penha neighborhood, where the police action was under way.

"Law enforcement personnel formed a line and announced: 'Journalists cannot proceed beyond this point'."

However, the photographer, who was raised in the area, stated he managed to gain access into the cordoned-off area, where he continued until the next morning.

He explained that evening, community members started looking the elevated terrain that borders the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown after the operation.

Residents living in Penha proceeded to place the discovered victims in a square - the documented evidence show the response of the gathered crowd.

"The violence of what occurred impacted me profoundly: the pain of relatives, women collapsing, women carrying children, crying, furious relatives," the photographer recalled.

Bruno Itan

The state leader of Rio state announced that the large-scale security action deploying about 2,500 law enforcement members was intended to halting a criminal group called Red Command from growing their influence.

Initially, the Rio state government stated that sixty alleged criminals along with four officers" were fatally injured in the raid.

Officials subsequently stated that their "preliminary" count indicates that 117 "suspects" have been killed.

The legal assistance organization, which provides legal assistance to low-income residents, has estimated the total number of people killed at 132.

Per investigative findings, the criminal organization represents the unique criminal entity that in the past few years has succeeded to expand its territory throughout Rio state.

It is generally regarded one of the two largest gangs in Brazil, together with a rival criminal group, with a background extending half a century.

According to correspondent an expert, who has long reported on criminal activity in the city over many years, the criminal organization "works as a system" with local criminal leaders forming part of the gang and serving as "commercial associates".

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

Based on official reports, organization members have substantial firearms and authorities stated that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The state leader of Rio state, the political leader, characterized Red Command members as criminal extremists and referred to the security forces who died during the operation as "heroes".

However, the count of casualties in the security action has faced scrutiny with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights saying it was "horrified".

During a press briefing on Wednesday, the state leader supported law enforcement.

"It wasn't our intention to kill anyone. We aimed to detain everyone safely," he declared.

He continued that the situation had escalated as the individuals fought back: "It resulted of the counterattack they carried out and the excessive violence by those criminals."

The state leader additionally stated that the casualties displayed by locals in the neighborhood had been "manipulated".

In a post on social media, he claimed that particular individuals had been taken of military-style attire that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation to security forces".

Felipe Curi representing security forces additionally stated that military attire, protective equipment, and arms" were taken away from the victims and showed footage apparently demonstrating a person stripping military attire {off a corpse