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The photographer

A photographer who witnessed the consequences of a large-scale security raid in the metropolitan area has recounted how local people came back with mutilated bodies of the deceased individuals.

The bodies "kept coming: the numbers kept rising", the photographer described. They included security forces.

One individual had been decapitated - additional victims were "severely damaged", he said. Many also had what he described as blade trauma.

In excess of 120 victims lost their lives during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang - the deadliest such raid Rio has experienced.

The photographer stated that he was first alerted concerning the action early on Tuesday by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who contacted him alerting him gunfire had erupted.

The reporter went to a local medical facility, where the casualties were arriving.

Itan explained that the police blocked media personnel from entering the Penha neighborhood, where the police action was under way.

"Security forces established a perimeter and said: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."

However, the photographer, who spent his childhood in the area, explained he was able to enter into the restricted zone, where he remained until the next morning.

He explained that evening, local residents began to search the mountainous area that separates the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for loved ones who were unaccounted for following the security action.

Local people living in Penha proceeded to place the recovered bodies in a square - and Itan's photos reveal the emotions of those present.

"The violence of what occurred impacted me deeply: the pain of the families, mothers fainting, expectant spouses, sobbing, outraged parents," the photographer recalled.

The photographer

The governor of the region announced that the extensive law enforcement effort involving around 2,500 officers was designed to preventing an illegal organization known as Comando Vermelho from expanding its territory.

At first, local officials claimed that sixty individuals along with four officers" had been killed in the raid.

Officials subsequently stated that early calculations shows that 117 alleged criminals were fatally injured.

The legal assistance organization, which provides legal assistance to disadvantaged individuals, has calculated the overall count of casualties to be 132.

According to researchers, Red Command is the only criminal group that recently has been able to expand its territory throughout Rio state.

Experts commonly view among the biggest criminal organizations in the country, alongside a rival criminal group, with a background extending half a century.

Per reporter Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio for years, Red Command "functions as a network" with neighborhood bosses joining the organization and becoming "operational allies".

The gang concentrates largely on narcotics distribution, while also dealing in weapons, precious metals, energy resources, alcohol cigarettes.

Based on official reports, organization members have substantial firearms and police said that throughout the operation, they faced assaults from explosive-laden drones.

The governor of the state, the government representative, labeled gang affiliates as drug terrorists and called the four police officers who died during the operation as "heroes".

But the number of people killed in the operation has faced scrutiny from UN human rights officials stating they were "appalled".

In a media appearance the following day, Governor Castro supported law enforcement.

"It wasn't our intention to result in deaths. We intended to detain everyone safely," he declared.

He continued that the situation worsened due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It occurred of the resistance they implemented and the disproportionate use of force from the gang members."

The state leader additionally stated that the victims shown by residents in the neighborhood were "altered".

In a post through digital channels, he said that particular individuals had been removed of the camouflage clothing he said they had been wearing "to redirect responsibility toward law enforcement".

A police official of Rio's civil police force further reported that military attire, vests, and firearms" had been removed from the casualties and showed footage apparently demonstrating an individual removing tactical gear {off a corpse