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The photographer

An eyewitness who witnessed the results of a massive security raid in Rio de Janeiro has reported how residents came back with badly injured victims of the deceased individuals.

The bodies "continued arriving: the count kept increasing", the photographer described. They included security forces.

One of the bodies was found without a head - additional victims were "totally disfigured", he reported. Numerous victims displayed what he described as knife injuries.

Over 120 individuals were killed during the security action against a criminal group - the bloodiest action the municipality has seen.

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

The reporter went to a local medical facility, where the bodies were being brought.

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

"Security forces established a perimeter and declared: 'The press doesn't get past here'."

However, the photographer, who was raised in the area, explained he succeeded to make his way past the security perimeter, where he continued until the next morning.

He reported that Tuesday night, community members commenced searching the hillside which divides Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for family members who had been missing since the police raid.

Local people of the Penha neighbourhood organized the located casualties in a public space - and Itan's photos reveal the response of the gathered crowd.

"The harsh reality of what occurred shook me a lot: the grief of loved ones, mothers fainting, expectant spouses, weeping, outraged parents," the eyewitness remembered.

Bruno Itan

The official of the region stated that the extensive law enforcement effort involving around 2,500 security personnel was designed to stopping an illegal organization called Comando Vermelho from expanding its territory.

Originally, the Rio state government stated that sixty individuals plus four law enforcement personnel" were fatally injured in the operation.

Officials subsequently stated that early calculations shows that 117 individuals were fatally injured.

Rio's public defender's office, that gives legal support to low-income residents, has put the total number of casualties as 132.

Based on expert analysis, the criminal organization is the only criminal group which in recent years has managed to increase its control across the region.

It is widely considered one of the two largest gangs in Brazil, in company with a rival criminal group, and has a history spanning over five decades.

Based on reporter a specialist, who has long reported on crime in Rio over many years, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with neighborhood bosses joining the organization and serving as "commercial associates".

The gang focuses mainly on drug trafficking, while also dealing in firearms, valuable minerals, petroleum products, alcohol cigarettes.

Per law enforcement statements, gang members have substantial firearms and officials reported that during the raid, they came under attack from explosive-laden drones.

The governor of the region, the government representative, described organization participants as drug terrorists and referred to the security forces who died during the operation as "heroes".

Nevertheless, the total of casualties in the operation has received condemnation from UN human rights officials stating they were "horrified".

In a media appearance the following day, Governor Castro supported law enforcement.

"It wasn't our intention to kill anyone. We intended to arrest them all alive," he stated.

He further explained that the events intensified as the individuals fought back: "It was a consequence of the counterattack they carried out and the overwhelming response by those criminals."

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

Through a message through digital channels, he claimed that certain victims had been stripped of military-style attire he said they had been wearing "to transfer accusation to security forces".

A law enforcement representative representing security forces additionally stated that "camouflage clothing, protective equipment, and weapons" were taken away from the victims and showed footage appearing to show a man stripping military attire {off a corpse