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The photographer

An eyewitness who documented the consequences of an extensive Brazilian police operation in the Brazilian city has recounted how local people brought back mutilated bodies of the deceased individuals.

The casualties "kept piling up: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", Bruno Itan described. They included those of police officers.

One of the bodies was found without a head - others were "totally disfigured", he explained. Several bodies showed what appeared to be blade trauma.

In excess of 120 victims lost their lives during Tuesday's raid targeting an illegal organization - the bloodiest action Rio has experienced.

The photographer explained that he was first alerted to the raid early on Tuesday by community members living in Alemão, who sent him messages informing him there was a shoot-out.

The eyewitness made his way to the healthcare center, where the casualties were coming in.

Itan explained that law enforcement blocked media personnel from entering the Penha neighborhood, where the operation was under way.

"Police officers established a perimeter and said: 'Media representatives doesn't get past here'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who was raised in the area, stated he succeeded to gain access into the cordoned-off area, where he stayed through the night.

He reported during the night, community members began to search the elevated terrain that borders Penha from the adjacent Alemão area for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Local people from the Penha area proceeded to place the discovered victims in a square - and Itan's photos show the response of those present.

"The violence of the situation shook me a lot: the grief of the families, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, weeping, furious relatives," the eyewitness remembered.

The photographer

The state leader of Rio state declared that the massive police operation involving around 2,500 law enforcement members was designed to halting an illegal organization known as Red Command from expanding its territory.

Initially, the Rio state government claimed that sixty individuals plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed in the operation.

They have since said that their "preliminary" count indicates that 117 "suspects" were fatally injured.

The legal assistance organization, that offers legal help to the poor, has put the overall count of fatalities at 132.

According to researchers, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has managed to expand its territory across the region.

It is generally regarded one of the two largest gangs in the country, together with another major gang, with a background dating back more than 50 years.

Based on correspondent a specialist, with extensive experience documenting criminal activity in the city extensively, Red Command "functions as a network" with neighborhood bosses affiliating with the group and becoming "operational allies".

The criminal group concentrates largely on narcotics distribution, additionally trafficking firearms, valuable minerals, petroleum products, alcohol and tobacco.

Per law enforcement statements, organization members possess significant weaponry and officials reported that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance using drone-delivered explosives.

The governor of the region, the political leader, described Red Command members as criminal extremists and referred to the law enforcement personnel killed in the raid as brave public servants.

However, the count of people killed during the raid has come in for criticism from international human rights authorities stating they were "horrified".

At a news conference on Wednesday, the official defended the police force.

"We did not plan to result in deaths. We wanted to detain everyone safely," he declared.

He continued that the circumstances worsened due to the alleged criminals fought back: "It was a consequence of the counterattack they implemented and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The state leader also said that the bodies shown by residents in the neighborhood had been "manipulated".

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

Felipe Curi from the police department additionally stated that "camouflage clothing, protective equipment, and weapons" were taken away from the casualties and displayed evidence apparently demonstrating a man cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse