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The eyewitness

An eyewitness who witnessed the results of an extensive law enforcement action in the metropolitan area has recounted how community members returned with mutilated bodies of those who had died.

The victims "kept coming: the count kept increasing", Bruno Itan described. They included those of police officers.

One individual was discovered headless - others were "completely mutilated", he reported. Several bodies showed evidence of stab wounds.

More than 120 people were fatally injured in the Tuesday operation against a criminal group - the most lethal operation Rio has experienced.

The eyewitness stated that residents first notified him concerning the action early on Tuesday by community members of the Alemão neighbourhood, who reached out informing him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The reporter made his way to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the casualties were coming in.

Itan explained that the police prevented journalists from going into the operation zone, where the security measures were taking place.

"Security forces formed a line and announced: 'The press are not allowed to pass'."

But Itan, who grew up in the community, stated he managed to make his way into the cordoned-off area, where he remained through the night.

He described that evening, area inhabitants started looking the hillside which divides the Penha neighborhood from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for loved ones whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Local people from the Penha area arranged the located casualties in a square - the documented evidence reveal the response of the gathered crowd.

"The harsh reality of it all impacted me deeply: the grief of relatives, women collapsing, expectant spouses, crying, furious relatives," the eyewitness remembered.

The photographer

The governor of the region declared that the massive police operation involving around 2,500 officers was intended to halting a criminal group known as the criminal faction from increasing their control.

Initially, the Rio state government claimed that sixty individuals along with four officers" lost their lives in the operation.

Officials subsequently stated that initial estimates shows that 117 individuals were fatally injured.

The legal assistance organization, that gives legal support to the poor, has calculated the final tally of casualties to be 132.

According to researchers, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has been able to expand its territory in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

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

Based on Brazilian journalist Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio over many years, the gang "operates like a franchise" with neighborhood bosses forming part of the gang and becoming "operational allies".

The gang engages primarily in illegal drug trade, while also dealing in weapons, gold, energy resources, beverages smoking products.

Per law enforcement statements, criminal affiliates have substantial firearms and authorities stated that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The official of Rio state, the political leader, labeled organization participants as drug terrorists and described the four police officers fatally injured in the action as courageous individuals.

But the number of casualties during the raid has received condemnation from international human rights authorities stating they were "horrified".

During a press briefing 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 intensified due to the alleged criminals resisted aggressively: "It was a consequence of the retaliation they implemented and the excessive violence by the illegal group."

The governor further reported that the casualties shown by residents in Penha were "altered".

Through a message on online platforms, he said that particular individuals had been taken of tactical gear which he claimed they wore "to transfer accusation toward law enforcement".

Felipe Curi of Rio's civil police force additionally stated that "camouflage clothing, vests, and firearms" were stripped from the victims and displayed evidence appearing to show a person stripping military attire {off a corpse