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Bruno Itan

A photographer who observed the aftermath of a massive law enforcement action in the Brazilian city has reported how local people brought back badly injured victims of those who had died.

The casualties "kept piling up: the count kept increasing", the eyewitness reported. The total contained those of police officers.

A particular victim was discovered headless - while others appeared "completely mutilated", he explained. Many also had what appeared to be knife injuries.

In excess of 120 victims were fatally injured in the Tuesday operation on a criminal gang - the bloodiest action the municipality has seen.

The photographer stated that he initially learned about the operation Tuesday morning by local people from the Alemão area, who reached out alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The photographer traveled to a local medical facility, where the casualties were arriving.

Itan explained that law enforcement stopped members of the press from entering the operation zone, where the police action were occurring.

"Police officers formed a line and declared: 'The press are not allowed to pass'."

But Itan, who was raised in the community, reported he succeeded to enter into the cordoned-off area, where he continued through the night.

He reported that evening, area inhabitants commenced searching the mountainous area which divides the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for loved ones who were unaccounted for following the security action.

Community members from the Penha area arranged the located casualties in an open area - the photographer's images display the emotions of those present.

"The harsh reality of the situation shook me a lot: the sorrow of relatives, mothers fainting, expectant spouses, crying, angry family members," the photographer recalled.

Bruno Itan

The state leader of the state stated that the large-scale security action involving around 2,500 officers was designed to stopping a criminal group referred to as Red Command from growing their influence.

Initially, the Rio state government maintained that sixty alleged criminals plus four law enforcement personnel" were fatally injured in the operation.

Officials subsequently stated that their "preliminary" count suggests that 117 alleged criminals were fatally injured.

The public legal service, which provides legal assistance to low-income residents, has estimated the overall count of people killed at 132.

Per investigative findings, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity that in the past few years has succeeded to increase its control throughout Rio state.

It is generally regarded as a major illegal faction in Brazil, together with First Capital Command, featuring a timeline spanning over five decades.

Per correspondent Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting crime in Rio for years, the gang "functions as a network" with neighborhood bosses joining the organization and serving as "business partners".

The organization engages primarily in narcotics distribution, while also dealing in guns, gold, petroleum products, beverages and tobacco.

According to the authorities, organization members are well armed and police said that throughout the operation, they came under attack using drone-delivered explosives.

The official of the state, the political leader, labeled Red Command members as drug terrorists and referred to the four police officers killed in the raid as "heroes".

Nevertheless, the total of casualties in the operation has faced scrutiny from UN human rights officials saying it was "horrified".

In a media appearance the next day, the state leader supported law enforcement.

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

He continued that the events had escalated as the individuals resisted aggressively: "It was a consequence of the counterattack they carried out and the overwhelming response by the illegal group."

The official further reported that the bodies shown by residents in the neighborhood were "altered".

In a post on social media, he said that certain victims had been taken of military-style attire which he claimed they wore "to transfer accusation toward law enforcement".

Felipe Curi representing security forces additionally stated that military attire, protective equipment, and weapons" were taken away from the bodies and showed footage apparently demonstrating a man stripping military attire {off a corpse