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Bruno Itan

A reporter who witnessed the aftermath of a large-scale law enforcement action in Rio de Janeiro has described how community members came back with mutilated bodies of those who had died.

The bodies "continued arriving: the numbers kept rising", the photographer reported. Among them were security forces.

A particular victim was discovered headless - others were "totally disfigured", he said. Many also had what he described as blade trauma.

In excess of 120 victims were killed in the Tuesday operation on a criminal gang - the bloodiest action Rio has experienced.

Bruno Itan reported that he initially learned concerning the action in the early hours by local people living in Alemão, who sent him messages alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The photographer went to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the victims were coming in.

The photographer stated that the police blocked media personnel from going into the operation zone, where the security measures were taking place.

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

However, the photographer, who was raised in the area, stated he was able to make his way into the restricted zone, where he continued until dawn.

He described during the night, community members commenced searching the mountainous area which divides the community of Penha and the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for family members who had been missing since the police raid.

Residents living in Penha organized the recovered bodies in an open area - the photographer's images reveal the response of the gathered crowd.

"The violence of what occurred shook me profoundly: the pain of relatives, parents losing consciousness, expectant spouses, crying, furious relatives," the reporter recounted.

Bruno Itan

The state leader of Rio state declared that the large-scale security action with approximately 2,500 officers was aimed at halting a gang known as Comando Vermelho from expanding its territory.

At first, state authorities stated that sixty alleged criminals and four police officers" were fatally injured in the operation.

Authorities later reported that initial estimates suggests that 117 "suspects" lost their lives.

The legal assistance organization, which provides legal assistance to disadvantaged individuals, has calculated the total number of fatalities at 132.

Based on expert analysis, the criminal organization represents the unique criminal entity that recently has been able to expand its territory in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Experts commonly view among the biggest criminal organizations in Brazil, alongside First Capital Command, and has a history dating back more than 50 years.

Per reporter a specialist, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio over many years, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and becoming "commercial associates".

The organization focuses mainly on illegal drug trade, but also smuggles firearms, valuable minerals, petroleum products, liquor smoking products.

Based on official reports, criminal affiliates are well armed and police said that during the raid, they came under attack via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The official of the region, Cláudio Castro, characterized Red Command members as criminal extremists and referred to the law enforcement personnel killed in the raid as brave public servants.

However, the count of casualties in the operation has received condemnation from international human rights authorities expressing they felt "shocked".

In a media appearance the following day, the state leader defended the police force.

"There was no objective to kill anyone. We intended to arrest them all alive," he said.

He further explained that the situation worsened due to the alleged criminals fought back: "It occurred of the resistance they implemented and the disproportionate use of force from the gang members."

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

Via a statement on online platforms, he said that particular individuals had been taken of military-style attire that he stated they possessed "to redirect responsibility to security forces".

Felipe Curi from the police department additionally stated that military attire, body armor, and arms" were stripped from the casualties and showed footage seemingly depicting an individual stripping military attire {off a corpse