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The eyewitness

A photographer who observed the results of an extensive law enforcement action in the metropolitan area has described how residents came back with badly injured victims of the deceased individuals.

The bodies "kept coming: the count kept increasing", Bruno Itan described. They included security forces.

One individual had been decapitated - while others appeared "severely damaged", he reported. Numerous victims displayed evidence of stab wounds.

In excess of 120 victims were killed during the security action on a criminal gang - the bloodiest action Rio has experienced.

Bruno Itan stated that he initially learned about the operation in the early hours by local people from the Alemão area, who sent him messages alerting him there was a shoot-out.

The reporter made his way to the healthcare center, where the victims were coming in.

The photographer stated that the police stopped members of the press from going into the Penha neighborhood, where the police action were occurring.

"Police officers established a perimeter and declared: 'Media representatives are not allowed to pass'."

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

He reported during the night, local residents began to search the hillside which divides the community of Penha and the neighboring Alemão community for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown after the operation.

Local people from the Penha area proceeded to place the located casualties in a public space - and Itan's photos reveal the reaction of the people there.

"The violence of what occurred affected me a lot: the grief of loved ones, women collapsing, pregnant wives, weeping, outraged parents," the reporter recounted.

The eyewitness

The governor of Rio state announced that the large-scale security action deploying about 2,500 officers was aimed at preventing a criminal group called the criminal faction from expanding its territory.

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

Authorities later reported that initial estimates suggests that 117 alleged criminals were fatally injured.

The public legal service, that gives legal support to disadvantaged individuals, has estimated the total number of people killed to be 132.

Per investigative findings, the gang stands as the sole illegal faction which in recent years has managed to increase its control in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Experts commonly view one of the two largest gangs in Brazil, in company with another major gang, with a background extending half a century.

Per correspondent Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting crime in Rio over many years, Red Command "functions as a network" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and serving as "commercial associates".

The organization engages primarily in illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking firearms, precious metals, petroleum products, beverages and tobacco.

According to the authorities, organization members possess significant weaponry and authorities stated that while the action was underway, they faced assaults from explosive-laden drones.

The governor of the region, the political leader, labeled Red Command members as criminal extremists and referred to the security forces who died during the operation as brave public servants.

However, the count of casualties during the raid has come in for criticism with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights saying it was "shocked".

At a news conference the next day, the official supported law enforcement.

"We did not plan to kill anyone. We aimed to detain everyone safely," he declared.

He further explained that the events had escalated as the individuals fought back: "It resulted of the counterattack they executed and the disproportionate use of force from the gang members."

The state leader further reported that the victims displayed by locals in the neighborhood had been "tampered with".

Through a message through digital channels, he asserted that some of them had been stripped of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "to redirect responsibility onto the police".

A law enforcement representative of Rio's civil police force also said that "camouflage clothing, protective equipment, and arms" were stripped from the victims and showed footage seemingly depicting a man removing tactical gear {off a corpse