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Bruno Itan

A reporter who witnessed the results of a large-scale security raid in the Brazilian city has described how residents returned with badly injured victims of people who lost their lives.

The victims "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the eyewitness reported. They included those of police officers.

A particular victim had been decapitated - others were "totally disfigured", 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 most lethal operation the municipality has seen.

The photographer reported that he initially learned about the operation Tuesday morning by community members of the Alemão neighbourhood, who sent him messages informing him gunfire had erupted.

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

The photographer stated that law enforcement stopped members of the press from going into the Penha neighborhood, where the security measures were occurring.

"Police officers created a barrier and said: 'Media representatives are not allowed to pass'."

However, the photographer, who grew up in the community, stated he was able to make his way into the cordoned-off area, where he remained until dawn.

He reported that Tuesday night, community members started looking the elevated terrain that borders the community of Penha and the neighboring Alemão community for loved ones who were unaccounted for since the police raid.

Community members living in Penha organized the recovered bodies in a public space - the photographer's images show the emotions of those present.

"The brutality of what occurred impacted me profoundly: the sorrow of loved ones, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, crying, angry family members," the eyewitness remembered.

The photographer

The official of Rio state stated that the large-scale security action with approximately 2,500 security personnel was intended to stopping an illegal organization referred to as Comando Vermelho from increasing their control.

Initially, local officials claimed that "60 suspects along with four officers" were fatally injured in the operation.

Officials subsequently stated that their "preliminary" count shows that 117 individuals were fatally injured.

The legal assistance organization, that gives legal support to the poor, has put the overall count of casualties as 132.

According to researchers, the criminal organization stands as the sole illegal faction that recently has been able to expand its territory throughout Rio state.

Experts commonly view among the biggest criminal organizations in Brazil, together with another major gang, and has a history extending half a century.

Based on Brazilian journalist Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio extensively, Red Command "functions as a network" with neighborhood bosses forming part of the gang and serving as "commercial associates".

The gang focuses mainly on drug trafficking, additionally trafficking weapons, precious metals, energy resources, liquor and tobacco.

Per law enforcement statements, criminal affiliates have substantial firearms and officials reported that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance using drone-delivered explosives.

The governor of the state, the political leader, described organization participants as drug terrorists and referred to the law enforcement personnel who died during the operation as brave public servants.

But the number of casualties in the operation has faced scrutiny with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights saying it was "horrified".

During a press briefing on Wednesday, Governor Castro supported law enforcement.

"We did not plan to kill anyone. We intended to detain everyone safely," he stated.

He continued that the situation worsened because the suspects had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the resistance they executed and the excessive violence by the illegal group."

The official additionally stated that the casualties shown by residents in Penha were "altered".

Through a message on social media, he asserted that some of them had been removed of the camouflage clothing he said they had been wearing "to transfer accusation onto the police".

A police official representing security forces also said that military attire, body armor, and firearms" had been removed from the victims and presented video apparently demonstrating an individual removing tactical gear {off a corpse