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The eyewitness

A photographer who observed the aftermath of an extensive security raid in Rio de Janeiro has described how local people came back with disfigured remains of those who had died.

The victims "kept piling up: the numbers kept rising", Bruno Itan stated. They included those of police officers.

One of the bodies was discovered headless - others were "completely mutilated", he explained. Numerous victims displayed evidence of knife injuries.

Over 120 individuals were killed during Tuesday's raid targeting an illegal organization - the deadliest such raid Rio has experienced.

The photographer reported that he was first alerted about the operation 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 law enforcement blocked media personnel from entering the Penha neighborhood, where the security measures were occurring.

"Security forces established a perimeter and said: 'Journalists cannot proceed beyond this point'."

But Itan, who grew up in the area, reported he succeeded to gain access past the security perimeter, where he remained until the next morning.

He explained during the night, area inhabitants began to search the hillside which divides Penha from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for loved ones whose whereabouts were unknown since the police raid.

Local people of the Penha neighbourhood proceeded to place the discovered victims in an open area - the photographer's images display the emotions of the people there.

"The brutality of the situation impacted me a lot: the pain of loved ones, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, sobbing, outraged parents," the eyewitness remembered.

Bruno Itan

The state leader of Rio state stated that the large-scale security action with approximately 2,500 law enforcement members was designed to stopping an illegal organization known as the criminal faction from increasing their control.

Originally, state authorities claimed that "60 suspects plus four law enforcement personnel" were fatally injured in the operation.

They have since said that initial estimates shows that 117 individuals have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, that gives legal support to disadvantaged individuals, has estimated the total number of people killed to be 132.

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

It is widely considered among the biggest criminal organizations nationally, alongside First Capital Command, featuring a timeline extending half a century.

Based on Brazilian journalist an expert, with extensive experience documenting criminal activity in the city for years, Red Command "operates like a franchise" with local criminal leaders joining the organization and becoming "commercial associates".

The gang engages primarily in narcotics distribution, additionally trafficking firearms, valuable minerals, energy resources, beverages cigarettes.

Based on official reports, gang members have substantial firearms and officials reported that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance using drone-delivered explosives.

The state leader of Rio state, the government representative, labeled organization participants as "narcoterrorists" and described the security forces killed in the raid as courageous individuals.

However, the count of people killed in the operation has faced scrutiny from international human rights authorities stating they were "appalled".

In a media appearance the following day, Governor Castro justified security actions.

"There was no objective to kill anyone. We aimed to arrest them all alive," he said.

He added that the events had escalated due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It resulted of the counterattack they carried out and the overwhelming response by the illegal group."

The official additionally stated that the bodies presented by community members in Penha had been "tampered with".

In a post on online platforms, he asserted that particular individuals had been removed of tactical gear he said they had been wearing "in order to shift blame toward law enforcement".

Felipe Curi representing security forces also said that tactical gear, vests, and arms" had been removed from the victims and displayed evidence appearing to show an individual stripping military attire {off a corpse