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The eyewitness

A photographer who observed the results of an extensive security raid in the metropolitan area has reported how residents returned with mutilated bodies of people who lost their lives.

The bodies "kept piling up: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", Bruno Itan described. The total contained those of police officers.

One of the bodies was discovered headless - others were "completely mutilated", he reported. Numerous victims displayed what he described as blade trauma.

In excess of 120 victims were killed during the security action on a criminal gang - the bloodiest action Rio has experienced.

The eyewitness reported that he was first alerted to the raid Tuesday morning by community members from the Alemão area, who contacted him alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The reporter made his way to the healthcare center, where the bodies were arriving.

The photographer stated that security forces stopped members of the press from entering the Penha neighborhood, where the operation was under way.

"Police officers formed a line and declared: 'The press cannot proceed beyond this point'."

But Itan, who grew up in the community, stated he succeeded to gain access past the security perimeter, where he remained until dawn.

He explained that Tuesday night, local residents commenced searching the hillside that separates Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for family members whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Residents from the Penha area proceeded to place the recovered bodies in an open area - the photographer's images show the response of those present.

"The violence of what occurred shook me deeply: the sorrow of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, pregnant wives, sobbing, angry family members," the eyewitness remembered.

The eyewitness

The governor of the region declared that the massive police operation involving around 2,500 security personnel was aimed at stopping an illegal organization referred to as Comando Vermelho from expanding its territory.

Initially, the Rio state government stated that "60 suspects along with four officers" lost their lives during the action.

Authorities later reported that their "preliminary" count suggests that 117 "suspects" were fatally injured.

Rio's public defender's office, that gives legal support to the poor, has estimated the overall count of casualties to be 132.

Based on expert analysis, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has managed to make territorial gains across the region.

Experts commonly view one of the two largest gangs nationally, together with a rival criminal group, featuring a timeline dating back more than 50 years.

Based on Brazilian journalist Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting criminal activity in the city over many years, Red Command "works as a system" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and acting as "commercial associates".

The criminal group concentrates largely on illegal drug trade, while also dealing in weapons, gold, petroleum products, alcohol smoking products.

According to the authorities, criminal affiliates are well armed and officials reported that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The official of the state, Cláudio Castro, characterized Red Command members as drug terrorists and called the security forces killed in the raid as brave public servants.

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

At a news conference the following day, Governor Castro defended the police force.

"We did not plan to result in deaths. We intended to take suspects into custody without harm," he stated.

He further explained that the events worsened due to the alleged criminals resisted aggressively: "It was a consequence of the counterattack they implemented and the overwhelming response by the illegal group."

The governor additionally stated that the bodies displayed by locals in Penha were "altered".

Through a message on online platforms, he claimed that particular individuals had been taken of tactical gear he said they had been wearing "to redirect responsibility to security forces".

A police official representing security forces additionally stated that military attire, vests, and arms" were stripped from the victims and presented video apparently demonstrating a person stripping military attire {off a corpse