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The eyewitness

An eyewitness who documented the consequences of an extensive Brazilian police operation in the metropolitan area has described how local people came back with disfigured remains of those who had died.

The casualties "kept coming: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer stated. The total contained security forces.

One of the bodies was found without a head - while others appeared "completely mutilated", he reported. Numerous victims displayed what he described as stab wounds.

More than 120 people were fatally injured in the Tuesday operation targeting an illegal organization - the bloodiest action the municipality has seen.

The photographer reported that he initially learned concerning the action early on Tuesday by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who reached out alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The reporter traveled to a local medical facility, where the bodies were coming in.

The photographer stated that law enforcement blocked media personnel from accessing the operation zone, where the police action were taking place.

"Security forces established a perimeter and declared: 'Media representatives doesn't get past here'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who grew up in the community, explained he succeeded to gain access into the restricted zone, where he stayed until the next morning.

He explained during the night, area inhabitants started looking the elevated terrain which divides Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for loved ones whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Local people of the Penha neighbourhood organized the located casualties in an open area - the photographer's images display the response of the people there.

"The harsh reality of it all impacted me deeply: the grief of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, women carrying children, sobbing, outraged parents," the photographer recalled.

Bruno Itan

The governor of the region declared that the extensive law enforcement effort deploying about 2,500 officers was designed to stopping a criminal group referred to as Red Command from expanding its territory.

Initially, local officials claimed that sixty individuals along with four officers" lost their lives during the action.

They have since said that their "preliminary" count suggests that 117 alleged criminals have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, that offers legal help to disadvantaged individuals, has calculated the overall count of fatalities to be 132.

Based on expert analysis, Red Command stands as the sole illegal faction that recently has been able to expand its territory throughout Rio state.

Experts commonly view one of the two largest gangs nationally, alongside First Capital Command, and has a history dating back more than 50 years.

According to Brazilian journalist a specialist, who has long reported on illegal operations in Rio extensively, the criminal organization "works as a system" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and serving as "business partners".

The gang focuses mainly on illegal drug trade, while also dealing in firearms, gold, fuel, liquor smoking products.

Based on official reports, gang members are well armed and officials reported that during the raid, they came under attack via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The state leader of Rio state, the government representative, labeled gang affiliates as "narcoterrorists" and described the security forces fatally injured in the action as brave public servants.

But the number of fatalities in the operation has come in for criticism with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressing they felt "appalled".

At a news conference on Wednesday, the official supported law enforcement.

"We did not plan to kill anyone. We intended to arrest them all alive," he stated.

He continued that the events worsened due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the retaliation they carried out and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The governor further reported that the casualties displayed by locals in the neighborhood were "altered".

Via a statement on social media, he asserted that some of them had been stripped of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "in order to shift blame toward law enforcement".

A police official representing security forces additionally stated that military attire, protective equipment, and arms" were taken away from the bodies and showed footage apparently demonstrating a person cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse