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The eyewitness

An eyewitness who observed the consequences of a massive law enforcement action in the metropolitan area has described how community members returned with badly injured victims of those who had died.

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

One individual was discovered headless - additional victims were "severely damaged", he explained. Several bodies showed evidence of blade trauma.

In excess of 120 victims were killed in the Tuesday operation targeting an illegal organization - the bloodiest action Rio has experienced.

The eyewitness reported that he initially learned concerning the action early on Tuesday by community members living in Alemão, who contacted him alerting him there was a shoot-out.

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

Itan explained that security forces prevented journalists from accessing the Penha neighborhood, where the security measures were occurring.

"Law enforcement personnel created a barrier and said: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."

However, the photographer, who spent his childhood in the community, stated he was able to make his way into the cordoned-off area, where he continued until the next morning.

He described during the night, area inhabitants commenced searching the hillside that borders the Penha neighborhood from the adjacent Alemão area for relatives who had been missing since the police raid.

Residents of the Penha neighbourhood arranged the recovered bodies in a public space - the photographer's images reveal the emotions of the gathered crowd.

"The harsh reality of what occurred shook me profoundly: the sorrow of the families, parents losing consciousness, expectant spouses, crying, angry family members," the photographer recalled.

The eyewitness

The official of the state declared that the extensive law enforcement effort involving around 2,500 law enforcement members was designed to stopping a gang called the criminal faction from growing their influence.

At first, state authorities stated that "60 suspects and four police officers" had been killed in the raid.

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

Rio's public defender's office, which provides legal assistance to low-income residents, has calculated the final tally of casualties at 132.

According to researchers, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity that in the past few years has managed to make territorial gains throughout Rio state.

It is generally regarded as a major illegal faction nationally, together with First Capital Command, and has a history spanning over five decades.

Per reporter Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio extensively, the criminal organization "operates like a franchise" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and becoming "operational allies".

The criminal group engages primarily in illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking weapons, precious metals, fuel, liquor cigarettes.

Based on official reports, criminal affiliates have substantial firearms and officials reported that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The governor of the state, Cláudio Castro, labeled Red Command members as "narcoterrorists" and called the law enforcement personnel fatally injured in the action as courageous individuals.

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

At a news conference the next day, the state leader supported law enforcement.

"We did not plan to kill anyone. We intended to arrest them all alive," he declared.

He continued that the events worsened as the individuals resisted aggressively: "It resulted of the counterattack they executed and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The state leader additionally stated that the victims displayed by locals in Penha were "altered".

Through a message on online platforms, he said that particular individuals had been stripped of the camouflage clothing that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation toward law enforcement".

A law enforcement representative of Rio's civil police force additionally stated that "camouflage clothing, protective equipment, and weapons" had been removed from the casualties and showed footage seemingly depicting a person cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse