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The eyewitness

An eyewitness who observed the results of an extensive Brazilian police operation in the metropolitan area has recounted how community members came back with disfigured remains of the deceased individuals.

The casualties "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer stated. The total contained those of police officers.

One of the bodies was found without a head - others were "completely mutilated", he reported. Numerous victims displayed evidence of knife injuries.

In excess of 120 victims were fatally injured during the security action against a criminal group - the deadliest such raid in the city.

The eyewitness stated that residents first notified him about the operation early on Tuesday by local people of the Alemão neighbourhood, who reached out telling him gunfire had erupted.

The eyewitness went to the healthcare center, where the casualties were coming in.

Itan explained that security forces stopped members of the press from accessing the operation zone, where the operation was under way.

"Police officers created a barrier and declared: 'The press doesn't get past here'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who was raised in the area, stated he managed to enter into the cordoned-off area, where he continued until dawn.

He described that evening, local residents commenced searching the hillside that separates the Penha neighborhood from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for family members whose whereabouts were unknown since the police raid.

Residents living in Penha proceeded to place the located casualties in a public space - the documented evidence show the response of the people there.

"The harsh reality of what occurred shook me profoundly: the grief of the families, parents losing consciousness, women carrying children, sobbing, angry family members," the eyewitness remembered.

The eyewitness

The official of Rio state stated that the extensive law enforcement effort deploying about 2,500 law enforcement members was intended to stopping an illegal organization known as Red Command from growing their influence.

Initially, state authorities maintained that "60 suspects and four police officers" had been killed during the action.

They have since said that their "preliminary" count shows that 117 individuals have been killed.

The public legal service, which provides legal assistance to low-income residents, has put the overall count of fatalities to be 132.

Per investigative findings, the criminal organization stands as the sole illegal faction that in the past few years has succeeded to expand its territory in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

It is generally regarded one of the two largest gangs in Brazil, together with First Capital Command, and has a history spanning over five decades.

Based on correspondent a specialist, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio extensively, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and serving as "business partners".

The criminal group concentrates largely on drug trafficking, additionally trafficking guns, gold, fuel, beverages smoking products.

Based on official reports, criminal affiliates possess significant weaponry and police said that while the action was underway, they faced assaults using drone-delivered explosives.

The state leader of the state, the government representative, labeled organization participants as "narcoterrorists" and called the law enforcement personnel fatally injured in the action as brave public servants.

However, the count of people killed during the raid has come in for criticism from UN human rights officials saying it was "appalled".

During a press briefing the next day, the official supported law enforcement.

"It wasn't our intention to result in deaths. We aimed to take suspects into custody without harm," he stated.

He further explained that the events worsened due to the alleged criminals resisted aggressively: "It occurred of the retaliation they carried out and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The governor further reported that the casualties presented by community members in the neighborhood had been "tampered with".

Via a statement on social media, he said that particular individuals had been removed of the camouflage clothing he said they had been wearing "to transfer accusation onto the police".

Felipe Curi representing security forces further reported that tactical gear, protective equipment, and firearms" were stripped from the victims and displayed evidence apparently demonstrating a man cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse