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The photographer

An eyewitness who observed the consequences of a massive security raid in the metropolitan area has reported how community members returned with badly injured victims of the deceased individuals.

The casualties "kept coming: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer described. The total contained law enforcement personnel.

One individual was discovered headless - others were "totally disfigured", he reported. Many also had what he described as blade trauma.

In excess of 120 victims were killed during the security action against a criminal group - the most lethal operation Rio has experienced.

Bruno Itan explained that residents first notified him about the operation early on Tuesday by community members of the Alemão neighbourhood, who reached out alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The eyewitness made his way to the healthcare center, where the victims were being brought.

The photographer stated that law enforcement prevented journalists from entering the Penha neighborhood, where the operation was under way.

"Law enforcement personnel created a barrier and announced: 'Journalists cannot proceed beyond this point'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who was raised in that neighborhood, reported he succeeded to gain access into the cordoned-off area, where he remained through the night.

He reported during the night, local residents started looking the elevated terrain that separates the Penha neighborhood from the adjacent Alemão area for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Community members of the Penha neighbourhood proceeded to place the discovered victims in a square - and Itan's photos display the response of those present.

"The harsh reality of what occurred impacted me deeply: the sorrow of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, pregnant wives, sobbing, outraged parents," the eyewitness remembered.

Bruno Itan

The state leader of Rio state announced that the extensive law enforcement effort with approximately 2,500 law enforcement members was intended to halting an illegal organization called the criminal faction from growing their influence.

Originally, state authorities claimed that "60 suspects plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed during the action.

Officials subsequently stated that initial estimates suggests that 117 individuals lost their lives.

The public legal service, which provides legal assistance to the poor, has estimated the overall count of casualties as 132.

Per investigative findings, the gang represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has been able to increase its control in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

It is generally regarded one of the two largest gangs nationally, alongside another major gang, and has a history dating back more than 50 years.

According to reporter Rafael Soares, who has been covering criminal activity in the city for years, the gang "functions as a network" with local criminal leaders affiliating with the group and becoming "commercial associates".

The criminal group concentrates largely on narcotics distribution, but also smuggles guns, precious metals, fuel, alcohol cigarettes.

According to the authorities, gang members are well armed and police said that throughout the operation, they faced assaults from explosive-laden drones.

The state leader of Rio state, Cláudio Castro, described gang affiliates as drug terrorists and described the law enforcement personnel fatally injured in the action as brave public servants.

But the number of fatalities in the security action has come in for criticism from UN human rights officials stating they were "appalled".

During a press briefing the following day, Governor Castro defended the police force.

"It wasn't our intention to cause fatalities. We aimed to detain everyone safely," he said.

He continued that the circumstances intensified due to the alleged criminals resisted aggressively: "It resulted of the counterattack they carried out and the excessive violence from the gang members."

The state leader also said that the victims displayed by locals in the neighborhood were "altered".

In a post on online platforms, he claimed that some of them had been stripped of the camouflage clothing that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation to security forces".

Felipe Curi of Rio's civil police force further reported that tactical gear, body armor, and arms" were stripped from the victims and showed footage appearing to show a person removing tactical gear {off a corpse