The eyewitness
A photographer who documented the aftermath of a large-scale security raid in Rio de Janeiro has described how community members returned with mutilated bodies of people who lost their lives.
The casualties "kept piling up: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the eyewitness reported. Among them were security forces.
One individual had been decapitated - additional victims were "completely mutilated", he reported. Many also had evidence of knife injuries.
More than 120 people were fatally injured during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang - the most lethal operation the municipality has seen.
The eyewitness explained that he initially learned about the operation early on Tuesday by local people from the Alemão area, who reached out informing him an armed confrontation was occurring.
The photographer went to a local medical facility, where the casualties were coming in.
Itan explained that law enforcement blocked media personnel from entering the Penha neighborhood, where the security measures were occurring.
"Law enforcement personnel formed a line and announced: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."
But Itan, who grew up in the community, reported he was able to gain access into the cordoned-off area, where he remained through the night.
He described during the night, community members started looking the mountainous area which divides Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for relatives who were unaccounted for following the security action.
Local people living in Penha organized the located casualties in a square - the documented evidence display the reaction of the gathered crowd.
"The harsh reality of what occurred impacted me deeply: the pain of loved ones, mothers fainting, expectant spouses, sobbing, angry family members," the eyewitness remembered.
Bruno Itan
The governor of Rio state declared that the massive police operation with approximately 2,500 law enforcement members was designed to stopping a gang called the criminal faction from growing their influence.
At first, local officials maintained that "60 suspects plus four law enforcement personnel" lost their lives during the action.
Authorities later reported that early calculations indicates that 117 alleged criminals have been killed.
The public legal service, that gives legal support to the poor, has calculated the overall count of fatalities to be 132.
Per investigative findings, the criminal organization represents the unique criminal entity that recently has succeeded to make territorial gains throughout Rio state.
It is generally regarded one of the two largest gangs in the country, together with another major gang, with a background spanning over five decades.
Per correspondent an expert, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio 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, energy resources, liquor and tobacco.
Per law enforcement statements, criminal affiliates possess significant weaponry and police said that throughout the operation, they faced assaults from explosive-laden drones.
The state leader of the region, the government representative, labeled Red Command members as criminal extremists and called the security forces killed in the raid as "heroes".
But the number of casualties in the operation has received condemnation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressing they felt "horrified".
In a media appearance the following day, the official supported law enforcement.
"We did not plan to kill anyone. We aimed to arrest them all alive," he declared.
He further explained that the events worsened as the individuals fought back: "It resulted 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 the area had been "tampered with".
Via a statement on online platforms, he asserted that particular individuals had been stripped of military-style attire which he claimed they wore "in order to shift blame onto the police".
A law enforcement representative representing security forces further reported that tactical gear, body armor, and firearms" were taken away from the victims and displayed evidence appearing to show a man removing tactical gear {off a corpse
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