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The eyewitness

A reporter who documented the consequences of an extensive security raid in Rio de Janeiro has recounted how residents came back with mutilated bodies of the deceased individuals.

The casualties "kept piling up: the count kept increasing", the photographer stated. Among them were security forces.

One individual had been decapitated - others were "severely damaged", he explained. Numerous victims displayed what appeared to be knife injuries.

Over 120 individuals were killed during the security action against a criminal group - the bloodiest action in the city.

The photographer stated that he initially learned to the raid in the early hours by local people from the Alemão area, who sent him messages alerting him there was a shoot-out.

The photographer made his way to the healthcare center, where the bodies were coming in.

The photographer stated that the police prevented journalists from going into the operation zone, where the operation were taking place.

"Police officers formed a line and said: 'Media representatives cannot proceed beyond this point'."

But Itan, who was raised in that neighborhood, reported he was able to enter into the restricted zone, where he continued until dawn.

He reported that Tuesday night, local residents started looking the mountainous area that separates the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for loved ones who had been missing since the police raid.

Residents from the Penha area organized the recovered bodies in a public space - the documented evidence display the reaction of the gathered crowd.

"The violence of what occurred shook me deeply: the pain of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, pregnant wives, crying, angry family members," the reporter recounted.

The eyewitness

The official of the region announced that the large-scale security action with approximately 2,500 law enforcement members was designed to stopping an illegal organization called Comando Vermelho from increasing their control.

At first, local officials maintained that sixty individuals and four police officers" were fatally injured during the action.

Officials subsequently stated that initial estimates indicates that 117 alleged criminals have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, which provides legal assistance to low-income residents, has put the final tally of casualties to be 132.

Per investigative findings, the criminal organization represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has succeeded to make territorial gains across the region.

It is widely considered as a major illegal faction in the country, together with a rival criminal group, and has a history extending half a century.

According to correspondent Rafael Soares, who has been covering crime in Rio over many years, the gang "operates like a franchise" with local criminal leaders joining the organization and serving as "commercial associates".

The gang focuses mainly on drug trafficking, additionally trafficking guns, gold, petroleum products, beverages and tobacco.

Based on official reports, criminal affiliates have substantial firearms and police said that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The state leader of the state, Cláudio Castro, labeled organization participants as drug terrorists and called the security forces who died during the operation as courageous individuals.

Nevertheless, the total of casualties in the operation has faced scrutiny with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stating they were "shocked".

During a press briefing the following day, the official justified security actions.

"We did not plan to result in deaths. We intended to take suspects into custody without harm," he said.

He continued that the situation intensified due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the resistance they implemented and the excessive violence by the illegal group."

The governor also said that the casualties displayed by locals in the neighborhood had been "manipulated".

Through a message on social media, he said that particular individuals had been removed of the camouflage clothing that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation onto the police".

A police official from the police department also said that tactical gear, protective equipment, and arms" were taken away from the victims and presented video seemingly depicting a person cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse