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Bruno Itan

An eyewitness who witnessed the aftermath of an extensive law enforcement action in the metropolitan area has recounted how local people returned with disfigured remains of those who had died.

The casualties "kept piling up: the numbers kept rising", the eyewitness described. The total contained those of police officers.

One individual was found without a head - additional victims were "severely damaged", he said. Many also had what he described as stab wounds.

In excess of 120 victims were killed during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the bloodiest action the municipality has seen.

The photographer stated that residents first notified him about the operation in the early hours by local people of the Alemão neighbourhood, who contacted him alerting him there was a shoot-out.

The eyewitness made his way to the healthcare center, where the casualties were coming in.

The eyewitness reported that law enforcement stopped members of the press from accessing the affected area, where the operation was under way.

"Police officers created a barrier and announced: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."

But Itan, who spent his childhood in that neighborhood, stated he was able to gain access past the security perimeter, where he remained until dawn.

He described that evening, local residents began to search the elevated terrain that separates Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for relatives who had been missing following the security action.

Local people living in Penha proceeded to place the located casualties in a public space - the photographer's images reveal the response of the people there.

"The violence of what occurred impacted me a lot: the grief of loved ones, women collapsing, pregnant wives, sobbing, furious relatives," the eyewitness remembered.

The photographer

The state leader of the region announced that the extensive law enforcement effort with approximately 2,500 officers was intended to stopping a criminal group referred to as Red Command from growing their influence.

Originally, local officials maintained that sixty individuals along with four officers" lost their lives during the action.

Authorities later reported that their "preliminary" count shows that 117 individuals were fatally injured.

The legal assistance organization, that gives legal support to low-income residents, has estimated the overall count of casualties at 132.

According to researchers, the gang stands as the sole illegal faction that in the past few years has succeeded to expand its territory across the region.

Experts commonly view as a major illegal faction in the country, in company with First Capital Command, featuring a timeline spanning over five decades.

According to correspondent Rafael Soares, who has long reported on crime in Rio over many years, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with area gang leaders joining the organization and acting as "commercial associates".

The criminal group concentrates largely on narcotics distribution, additionally trafficking weapons, valuable minerals, fuel, liquor and tobacco.

Based on official reports, criminal affiliates have substantial firearms and police said that during the raid, they came under attack from explosive-laden drones.

The official of the region, the political leader, characterized Red Command members as drug terrorists and referred to the security forces killed in the raid as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of casualties in the operation has come in for criticism from UN human rights officials expressing they felt "appalled".

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

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

He continued that the events worsened as the individuals had retaliated: "It resulted of the resistance they implemented and the excessive violence from the gang members."

The state leader also said that the victims displayed by locals in the neighborhood had been "tampered with".

Through a message on social media, he claimed that certain victims had been taken of the camouflage clothing which he claimed they wore "to redirect responsibility toward law enforcement".

Felipe Curi representing security forces also said that military attire, body armor, and weapons" had been removed from the bodies and displayed evidence appearing to show a person removing tactical gear {off a corpse