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The photographer

A reporter who observed the consequences of a massive security raid in the Brazilian city has reported how community members came back with mutilated bodies of those who had died.

The casualties "continued arriving: the count kept increasing", the eyewitness stated. The total contained law enforcement personnel.

A particular victim was found without a head - others were "severely damaged", he reported. Many also had evidence of blade trauma.

In excess of 120 victims lost their lives in the Tuesday operation targeting an illegal organization - the bloodiest action Rio has experienced.

The photographer reported that he initially learned about the operation in the early hours by residents from the Alemão area, who reached out alerting him there was a shoot-out.

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

The photographer stated that law enforcement blocked media personnel from going into the operation zone, where the security measures were taking place.

"Law enforcement personnel created a barrier and declared: 'Media representatives cannot proceed beyond this point'."

However, the photographer, who was raised in the area, reported he managed to enter into the cordoned-off area, where he continued until dawn.

He explained during the night, area inhabitants began to search the elevated terrain which divides Penha from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for family members who were unaccounted for following the security action.

Residents of the Penha neighbourhood proceeded to place the discovered victims in an open area - the documented evidence show the reaction of those present.

"The harsh reality of the situation impacted me a lot: the sorrow of relatives, mothers fainting, expectant spouses, weeping, outraged parents," the photographer recalled.

The photographer

The governor of the region announced that the massive police operation deploying about 2,500 officers was intended to halting a criminal group referred to as Red Command from growing their influence.

At first, local officials maintained that sixty alleged criminals plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed in the operation.

They have since said that early calculations suggests that 117 "suspects" have been killed.

The legal assistance organization, which provides legal assistance to the poor, has calculated the overall count of people killed at 132.

Per investigative findings, the gang stands as the sole illegal faction that recently has managed to make territorial gains throughout Rio state.

Experts commonly view as a major illegal faction nationally, in company with another major gang, with a background extending half a century.

According to Brazilian journalist an expert, who has been covering criminal activity in the city extensively, Red Command "operates like a franchise" with neighborhood bosses forming part of the gang and serving as "commercial associates".

The organization focuses mainly on narcotics distribution, additionally trafficking guns, gold, petroleum products, liquor and tobacco.

Per law enforcement statements, gang members have substantial firearms and officials reported that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The state leader of the region, the government representative, described gang affiliates as "narcoterrorists" and referred to the four police officers who died during the operation as "heroes".

However, the count of casualties during the raid has come in for criticism from UN human rights officials expressing they felt "appalled".

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

"There was no objective to kill anyone. We intended to arrest them all alive," he stated.

He continued that the events had escalated as the individuals had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the counterattack they implemented and the disproportionate use of force from the gang members."

The state leader further reported that the casualties shown by residents in Penha were "altered".

Via a statement through digital channels, he said that particular individuals had been taken of the camouflage clothing that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation onto the police".

Felipe Curi from the police department also said that tactical gear, protective equipment, and weapons" had been removed from the casualties and presented video seemingly depicting a person cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse