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Bruno Itan

An eyewitness who observed the consequences of a massive law enforcement action in the metropolitan area has described how residents returned with mutilated bodies of the deceased individuals.

The casualties "kept piling up: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer described. The total contained security forces.

A particular victim was found without a head - additional victims were "totally disfigured", he explained. Many also had evidence of stab wounds.

More than 120 people lost their lives during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang - the deadliest such raid the municipality has seen.

Bruno Itan explained that residents first notified him concerning the action Tuesday morning by residents living in Alemão, who contacted him informing him gunfire had erupted.

The eyewitness went to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the victims were coming in.

The eyewitness reported that the police prevented journalists from accessing the operation zone, where the security measures was under way.

"Law enforcement personnel formed a line and said: 'The press cannot proceed beyond this point'."

But Itan, who spent his childhood in the community, explained he was able to gain access into the restricted zone, where he continued until the next morning.

He explained that evening, area inhabitants started looking the hillside that borders the Penha neighborhood from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for relatives who had been missing after the operation.

Local people of the Penha neighbourhood organized the located casualties in a square - the documented evidence show the response of the gathered crowd.

"The brutality of the situation affected me deeply: the sorrow of the families, parents losing consciousness, pregnant wives, crying, outraged parents," the reporter recounted.

Bruno Itan

The state leader of the region stated that the extensive law enforcement effort with approximately 2,500 officers was designed to preventing a gang referred to as Red Command from growing their influence.

At first, local officials claimed that sixty individuals and four police officers" were fatally injured in the operation.

Officials subsequently stated that early calculations suggests that 117 individuals have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, that offers legal help to the poor, has put the final tally of casualties at 132.

According to researchers, the criminal organization stands as the sole illegal faction that in the past few years has succeeded to increase its control throughout Rio state.

It is widely considered one of the two largest gangs in Brazil, alongside First Capital Command, with a background spanning over five decades.

Per correspondent Rafael Soares, who has been covering crime in Rio for years, the criminal organization "operates like a franchise" with neighborhood bosses affiliating with the group and acting as "operational allies".

The criminal group focuses mainly on illegal drug trade, but also smuggles weapons, valuable minerals, energy resources, alcohol and tobacco.

Based on official reports, criminal affiliates possess significant weaponry and authorities stated that during the raid, they faced assaults using drone-delivered explosives.

The official of Rio state, the government representative, described organization participants as "narcoterrorists" and referred to the security forces who died during the operation as "heroes".

Nevertheless, the total of casualties in the security action has faced scrutiny from international human rights authorities stating they were "horrified".

In a media appearance the next day, the state leader supported law enforcement.

"There was no objective to result in deaths. We intended to detain everyone safely," he stated.

He further explained that the situation worsened due to the alleged criminals fought back: "It occurred of the resistance they carried out and the excessive violence by the illegal group."

The official further reported that the casualties presented by community members in the neighborhood were "altered".

In a post on online platforms, he said that particular individuals had been stripped of tactical gear he said they had been wearing "to transfer accusation onto the police".

A law enforcement representative from the police department also said that military attire, protective equipment, and arms" had been removed from the casualties and displayed evidence appearing to show a person stripping military attire {off a corpse