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The eyewitness

A photographer who observed the aftermath of an extensive Brazilian police operation in the Brazilian city has described how local people returned with mutilated bodies of people who lost their lives.

The bodies "kept coming: the numbers kept rising", the photographer stated. The total contained those of police officers.

One individual was found without a head - others were "completely mutilated", he explained. Several bodies showed evidence of blade trauma.

Over 120 individuals lost their lives during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the most lethal operation in the city.

Bruno Itan stated that he initially learned about the operation early on Tuesday by community members living in Alemão, who contacted him informing him there was a shoot-out.

The eyewitness went to the healthcare center, where the bodies were arriving.

The eyewitness reported that security forces prevented journalists from entering the affected area, where the police action were occurring.

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

But Itan, who grew up in that neighborhood, stated he was able to gain access into the restricted zone, where he remained until the next morning.

He reported that evening, community members commenced searching the hillside that borders the Penha neighborhood from the neighboring Alemão community for relatives who were unaccounted for following the security action.

Local people living in Penha organized the located casualties in a public space - the documented evidence display the reaction of those present.

"The harsh reality of what occurred shook me a lot: the grief of loved ones, women collapsing, expectant spouses, weeping, angry family members," the eyewitness remembered.

The eyewitness

The official of Rio state stated that the extensive law enforcement effort involving around 2,500 law enforcement members was designed to preventing an illegal organization known as Red Command from increasing their control.

At first, the Rio state government maintained that "60 suspects plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed in the raid.

Authorities later reported that early calculations indicates that 117 individuals have been killed.

The legal assistance organization, which provides legal assistance to disadvantaged individuals, has put the overall count of casualties at 132.

Based on expert analysis, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity that recently has managed to increase its control in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

It is generally regarded among the biggest criminal organizations in Brazil, together with First Capital Command, featuring a timeline spanning over five decades.

Based on Brazilian journalist an expert, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio over many years, Red Command "works as a system" with neighborhood bosses affiliating with the group and acting as "operational allies".

The criminal group concentrates largely on illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking guns, precious metals, petroleum products, alcohol cigarettes.

Based on official reports, organization members possess significant weaponry and officials reported that throughout the operation, they came under attack using drone-delivered explosives.

The state leader of the state, the political leader, characterized gang affiliates as drug terrorists and described the security forces fatally injured in the action as "heroes".

But the number of fatalities during the raid has faced scrutiny from UN human rights officials stating they were "horrified".

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

"It wasn't our intention to cause fatalities. We intended to take suspects into custody without harm," he said.

He continued that the events worsened as the individuals had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the resistance they carried out and the excessive violence by the illegal group."

The governor further reported that the bodies shown by residents in the area had been "tampered with".

In a post on online platforms, he said that certain victims had been stripped of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "to redirect responsibility toward law enforcement".

Felipe Curi representing security forces further reported that "camouflage clothing, protective equipment, and arms" had been removed from the victims and showed footage seemingly depicting a person cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse