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Bruno Itan

An eyewitness who observed the consequences of an extensive law enforcement action in Rio de Janeiro has recounted how residents came back with badly injured victims of the deceased individuals.

The victims "kept coming: the count kept increasing", the eyewitness reported. Among them were security forces.

One of the bodies had been decapitated - others were "totally disfigured", he explained. Several bodies showed what appeared to be blade trauma.

More than 120 people were fatally injured during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the bloodiest action the municipality has seen.

The eyewitness explained that residents first notified him concerning the action Tuesday morning by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who reached out telling him gunfire had erupted.

The reporter went to the healthcare center, where the casualties were arriving.

Itan explained that law enforcement blocked media personnel from accessing the affected area, where the operation was under way.

"Security forces formed a line and announced: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who spent his childhood in the community, stated he was able to gain access past the security perimeter, where he stayed until dawn.

He described that Tuesday night, local residents started looking the mountainous area that separates the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for loved ones who had been missing since the police raid.

Local people living in Penha arranged the located casualties in a public space - and Itan's photos display the emotions of the people there.

"The brutality of it all impacted me a lot: the sorrow of relatives, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, weeping, furious relatives," the reporter recounted.

Bruno Itan

The official of the state announced that the massive police operation involving around 2,500 officers was aimed at stopping a criminal group called Red Command from increasing their control.

Originally, local officials stated that "60 suspects along with four officers" had been killed in the raid.

They have since said that early calculations indicates that 117 alleged criminals lost their lives.

The public legal service, that gives legal support to disadvantaged individuals, has estimated the final tally of people killed at 132.

Based on expert analysis, Red Command stands as the sole illegal faction which in recent years has managed to expand its territory across the region.

It is widely considered among the biggest criminal organizations nationally, alongside another major gang, featuring a timeline spanning over five decades.

Per Brazilian journalist a specialist, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio over many years, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with area gang leaders joining the organization and serving as "operational allies".

The gang concentrates largely on illegal drug trade, while also dealing in firearms, valuable minerals, fuel, beverages smoking products.

Based on official reports, gang members possess significant weaponry and authorities stated that during the raid, they came under attack from explosive-laden drones.

The governor of Rio state, the political leader, described gang affiliates as "narcoterrorists" and described the security forces who died during the operation as courageous individuals.

Nevertheless, the total of fatalities in the operation has faced scrutiny with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressing they felt "shocked".

In a media appearance on Wednesday, the state leader justified security actions.

"It wasn't our intention to cause fatalities. We wanted to arrest them all alive," he stated.

He added that the events worsened due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the retaliation they executed and the overwhelming response by the illegal group."

The official also said that the bodies presented by community members in the neighborhood had been "manipulated".

Via a statement on social media, he asserted that particular individuals had been taken of military-style attire he said they had been wearing "to transfer accusation toward law enforcement".

A law enforcement representative representing security forces also said that tactical gear, vests, and weapons" were taken away from the victims and showed footage apparently demonstrating a person stripping military attire {off a corpse