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Bruno Itan

An eyewitness who witnessed the results of a massive law enforcement action in Rio de Janeiro has reported how residents brought back disfigured remains of the deceased individuals.

The victims "kept piling up: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", Bruno Itan reported. Among them were those of police officers.

One of the bodies was discovered headless - others were "totally disfigured", he said. Numerous victims displayed what he described as stab wounds.

Over 120 individuals were killed during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang - the bloodiest action Rio has experienced.

Bruno Itan reported that residents first notified him about the operation early on Tuesday by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who contacted him informing him there was a shoot-out.

The eyewitness made his way to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the casualties were arriving.

The photographer stated that the police prevented journalists from going into the operation zone, where the police action were occurring.

"Police officers created a barrier and announced: 'The press cannot proceed beyond this point'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who grew up in the area, stated he managed to make his way past the security perimeter, where he stayed until dawn.

He described that Tuesday night, area inhabitants began to search the mountainous area which divides Penha from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for loved ones who had been missing following the security action.

Local people of the Penha neighbourhood proceeded to place the located casualties in a public space - the documented evidence display the response of the people there.

"The harsh reality of it all impacted me a lot: the pain of loved ones, mothers fainting, expectant spouses, crying, outraged parents," the photographer recalled.

The eyewitness

The official of Rio state stated that the massive police operation involving around 2,500 security personnel was aimed at stopping a criminal group called the criminal faction from expanding its territory.

At first, state authorities maintained that sixty individuals along with four officers" were fatally injured in the raid.

Officials subsequently stated that initial estimates suggests that 117 alleged criminals have been killed.

The public legal service, that gives legal support to the poor, has estimated the overall count of people killed at 132.

Per investigative findings, Red Command stands as the sole illegal faction that recently has been able to increase its control in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Experts commonly view as a major illegal faction nationally, alongside First Capital Command, featuring a timeline spanning over five decades.

Per correspondent an expert, with extensive experience documenting crime in Rio for years, the criminal organization "works as a system" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and serving as "business partners".

The gang concentrates largely on narcotics distribution, but also smuggles weapons, precious metals, energy resources, alcohol and tobacco.

According to the authorities, organization members are well armed and police said that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The official of the region, Cláudio Castro, described organization participants as drug terrorists and referred to the security forces who died during the operation as "heroes".

However, the count of fatalities in the operation has come in for criticism from international human rights authorities stating they were "appalled".

At a news conference the next day, the state leader defended the police force.

"There was no objective to cause fatalities. We intended to take suspects into custody without harm," he declared.

He continued that the circumstances had escalated due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the counterattack they implemented and the overwhelming response by those criminals."

The state leader also said that the casualties shown by residents in the neighborhood were "altered".

Via a statement on online platforms, he claimed that particular individuals had been taken of the camouflage clothing which he claimed they wore "to transfer accusation toward law enforcement".

A police official of Rio's civil police force additionally stated that military attire, body armor, and weapons" had been removed from the victims and displayed evidence apparently demonstrating a man stripping military attire {off a corpse