The casualties continued piling up - eyewitness describes lethal Rio law enforcement operation

Bruno Itan

An eyewitness who observed the consequences of a massive Brazilian police operation in Rio de Janeiro has reported how local people came back with badly injured victims of the deceased individuals.

The casualties "kept coming: the count kept increasing", the eyewitness described. Among them were law enforcement personnel.

One of the bodies was discovered headless - while others appeared "totally disfigured", he explained. Numerous victims displayed what he described as stab wounds.

Over 120 individuals lost their lives during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the bloodiest action in the city.

Bruno Itan explained that residents first notified him about the operation early on Tuesday by local people of the Alemão neighbourhood, who sent him messages alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The photographer went to a local medical facility, where the casualties were arriving.

Itan explained that security forces prevented journalists from entering the Penha neighborhood, where the security measures was under way.

"Law enforcement personnel created a barrier and said: 'Media representatives doesn't get past here'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who spent his childhood in the community, reported he was able to gain access into the cordoned-off area, where he remained through the night.

He described that evening, area inhabitants started looking the mountainous area that borders Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for relatives who had been missing following the security action.

Local people of the Penha neighbourhood organized the recovered bodies in a square - the photographer's images display the reaction of the gathered crowd.

"The brutality of the situation affected me a lot: the pain of loved ones, women collapsing, pregnant wives, weeping, furious relatives," the photographer recalled.

The photographer

The state leader of the region stated that the large-scale security action deploying about 2,500 law enforcement members was aimed at halting a criminal group called the criminal faction from growing their influence.

At first, the Rio state government maintained that sixty alleged criminals plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed during the action.

Officials subsequently stated that early calculations suggests that 117 individuals lost their lives.

The public legal service, that offers legal help to the poor, has calculated the total number of people killed to be 132.

Per investigative findings, the gang is the only criminal group which in recent years has managed to make territorial gains throughout Rio state.

It is generally regarded as a major illegal faction in Brazil, together with First Capital Command, and has a history spanning over five decades.

Based on Brazilian journalist a specialist, with extensive experience documenting crime in Rio over many years, Red Command "functions as a network" with area gang leaders joining the organization and serving as "commercial associates".

The organization concentrates largely on drug trafficking, while also dealing in firearms, precious metals, petroleum products, beverages smoking products.

Per law enforcement statements, gang members are well armed and police said that throughout the operation, they faced assaults from explosive-laden drones.

The official of Rio state, the political leader, labeled Red Command members as "narcoterrorists" and described the four police officers fatally injured in the action as courageous individuals.

But the number of people killed during the raid has faced scrutiny from international human rights authorities stating they were "horrified".

In a media appearance the next 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 declared.

He further explained that the circumstances intensified because the suspects fought back: "It occurred of the resistance they carried out and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The official additionally stated that the bodies displayed by locals in the area had been "tampered with".

Through a message on social media, he asserted that particular individuals had been stripped of military-style attire he said they had been wearing "to redirect responsibility to security forces".

A police official from the police department additionally stated that tactical gear, vests, and arms" had been removed from the victims and displayed evidence apparently demonstrating a man cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse