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The photographer

A photographer who documented the results of a massive security raid in the metropolitan area has described how local people brought back badly injured victims of people who lost their lives.

The victims "continued arriving: the count kept increasing", the photographer described. They included security forces.

One individual was found without a head - others were "severely damaged", he said. Many also had evidence of blade trauma.

In excess of 120 victims were killed during the security action on a criminal gang - the most lethal operation the municipality has seen.

Bruno Itan explained that residents first notified him concerning the action in the early hours by community members living in Alemão, who contacted him alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The photographer went to a local medical facility, where the bodies were arriving.

The eyewitness reported that security forces prevented journalists from going into the operation zone, where the police action were taking place.

"Security forces established a perimeter and announced: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who spent his childhood in the area, reported he managed to make his way into the cordoned-off area, where he stayed through the night.

He explained that Tuesday night, community members started looking the elevated terrain which divides the Penha neighborhood from the adjacent Alemão area for family members who had been missing after the operation.

Community members of the Penha neighbourhood arranged the discovered victims in an open area - the photographer's images display the emotions of the people there.

"The harsh reality of it all impacted me a lot: the sorrow of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, pregnant wives, crying, furious relatives," the eyewitness remembered.

Bruno Itan

The official of Rio state stated that the extensive law enforcement effort involving around 2,500 security personnel was designed to stopping an illegal organization referred to as Comando Vermelho from growing their influence.

At first, the Rio state government stated that "60 suspects plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed in the raid.

Authorities later reported that initial estimates suggests that 117 "suspects" have been killed.

The legal assistance organization, that gives legal support to low-income residents, has estimated the overall count of casualties as 132.

Per investigative findings, the gang is the only criminal group that recently has managed to increase its control across the region.

It is widely considered among the biggest criminal organizations in Brazil, alongside another major gang, and has a history extending half a century.

Per reporter a specialist, who has been covering criminal activity in the city for years, Red Command "operates like a franchise" with neighborhood bosses joining the organization and becoming "operational allies".

The gang engages primarily in drug trafficking, but also smuggles firearms, gold, energy resources, liquor cigarettes.

Based on official reports, criminal affiliates have substantial firearms and officials reported that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance using drone-delivered explosives.

The official of Rio state, the government representative, described organization participants as "narcoterrorists" and referred to the four police officers killed in the raid as courageous individuals.

Nevertheless, the total of fatalities in the operation has received condemnation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressing they felt "horrified".

At a news conference on Wednesday, the official defended the police force.

"It wasn't our intention to kill anyone. We wanted to detain everyone safely," he declared.

He added that the situation had escalated due to the alleged criminals fought back: "It occurred of the retaliation they implemented and the overwhelming response by the illegal group."

The governor additionally stated that the casualties presented by community members in the neighborhood had been "manipulated".

In a post on online platforms, he claimed that certain victims had been removed of military-style attire that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation to security forces".

A law enforcement representative from the police department also said that "camouflage clothing, protective equipment, and arms" were taken away from the casualties and displayed evidence apparently demonstrating a person cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse