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The eyewitness

A reporter who documented the consequences of a large-scale Brazilian police operation in the metropolitan area has recounted how residents came back with disfigured remains of the deceased individuals.

The bodies "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer described. Among them were security forces.

One individual had been decapitated - additional victims were "completely mutilated", he reported. Numerous victims displayed evidence of stab wounds.

Over 120 individuals were fatally injured during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the bloodiest action in the city.

Bruno Itan explained that he was first alerted about the operation Tuesday morning by residents living in Alemão, who sent him messages alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The eyewitness traveled to a local medical facility, where the casualties were coming in.

The eyewitness reported that security forces blocked media personnel from entering the operation zone, where the operation was under way.

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

But Itan, who grew up in the community, stated he succeeded to enter into the cordoned-off area, where he remained until dawn.

He described that evening, community members commenced searching the hillside which divides Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for family members who had been missing after the operation.

Local people of the Penha neighbourhood proceeded to place the recovered bodies in a square - the documented evidence reveal the response of the people there.

"The brutality of what occurred affected me profoundly: the grief of the families, mothers fainting, expectant spouses, weeping, angry family members," the reporter recounted.

The photographer

The governor of the region stated that the extensive law enforcement effort with approximately 2,500 officers was designed to stopping an illegal organization called Red Command from expanding its territory.

Initially, the Rio state government stated that "60 suspects and four police officers" lost their lives in the raid.

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

The legal assistance organization, which provides legal assistance to disadvantaged individuals, has calculated the total number of fatalities at 132.

Based on expert analysis, the gang represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has been able to make territorial gains throughout Rio state.

Experts commonly view one of the two largest gangs in Brazil, in company with another major gang, featuring a timeline spanning over five decades.

According to Brazilian journalist a specialist, who has long reported on illegal operations in Rio for years, the criminal organization "works as a system" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and serving as "business partners".

The gang focuses mainly on narcotics distribution, additionally trafficking weapons, precious metals, petroleum products, liquor smoking products.

Based on official reports, organization members are well armed and authorities stated that throughout the operation, they came under attack using drone-delivered explosives.

The governor of the state, Cláudio Castro, characterized organization participants as "narcoterrorists" and described the four police officers who died during the operation as brave public servants.

However, the count of people killed in the security action has received condemnation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stating they were "appalled".

In a media appearance the next day, the official justified security actions.

"We did not plan to kill anyone. We aimed to take suspects into custody without harm," he said.

He continued that the events worsened due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the counterattack they executed and the disproportionate use of force from the gang members."

The state leader additionally stated that the bodies shown by residents in the neighborhood had been "tampered with".

In a post on online platforms, he asserted that particular individuals had been stripped of the camouflage clothing that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation toward law enforcement".

Felipe Curi representing security forces also said that "camouflage clothing, protective equipment, and firearms" were taken away from the casualties and presented video apparently demonstrating a man cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse