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The eyewitness

An eyewitness who documented the results of a massive security raid in the metropolitan area has described how local people returned with disfigured remains of the deceased individuals.

The bodies "kept piling up: the numbers kept rising", the eyewitness reported. Among them were law enforcement personnel.

One individual was found without a head - others were "totally disfigured", he explained. Numerous victims displayed what appeared to be stab wounds.

In excess of 120 victims lost their lives during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the bloodiest action in the city.

The eyewitness reported that he was first alerted about the operation in the early hours by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who sent him messages informing him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The reporter traveled to a local medical facility, where the victims were coming in.

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

"Police officers formed a line and said: 'Journalists doesn't get past here'."

But Itan, who was raised in the community, explained he managed to make his way past the security perimeter, where he stayed through the night.

He explained that evening, community members began to search the mountainous area that borders the Penha neighborhood from the adjacent Alemão area for relatives who were unaccounted for after the operation.

Local people of the Penha neighbourhood organized the discovered victims in a square - and Itan's photos reveal the emotions of the people there.

"The brutality of the situation shook me a lot: the pain of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, women carrying children, weeping, angry family members," the reporter recounted.

Bruno Itan

The governor of the state announced that the massive police operation deploying about 2,500 law enforcement members was intended to halting a criminal group called Red Command from growing their influence.

At first, state authorities maintained that "60 suspects and four police officers" lost their lives in the operation.

Officials subsequently stated that initial estimates shows that 117 alleged criminals lost their lives.

The legal assistance organization, which provides legal assistance to the poor, has estimated the total number of casualties at 132.

Based on expert analysis, the gang is the only criminal group which in recent years has been able to make territorial gains across the region.

It is generally regarded one of the two largest gangs in Brazil, together with a rival criminal group, with a background extending half a century.

According to reporter Rafael Soares, who has long reported on crime in Rio for years, the criminal organization "works as a system" with local criminal leaders joining the organization and serving as "operational allies".

The organization focuses mainly on drug trafficking, while also dealing in weapons, precious metals, energy resources, beverages cigarettes.

Per law enforcement statements, criminal affiliates have substantial firearms and authorities stated that throughout the operation, they came under attack via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The official of the state, the government representative, described gang affiliates as "narcoterrorists" and described the four police officers killed in the raid as "heroes".

But the number of people killed in the security action has received condemnation from UN human rights officials stating they were "horrified".

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

"We did not plan to cause fatalities. We intended to take suspects into custody without harm," he said.

He continued that the events worsened as the individuals had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the resistance they executed and the excessive violence by the illegal group."

The state leader also said that the bodies displayed by locals in the neighborhood had been "manipulated".

Via a statement on online platforms, he said that particular individuals had been stripped of tactical gear which he claimed they wore "in order to shift blame onto the police".

A police official representing security forces additionally stated that "camouflage clothing, vests, and firearms" had been removed from the victims and showed footage apparently demonstrating a man cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse