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The photographer

A photographer who observed the results of an extensive Brazilian police operation in the metropolitan area has reported how community members returned with disfigured remains of people who lost their lives.

The bodies "kept piling up: the numbers kept rising", the photographer stated. They included those of police officers.

A particular victim was discovered headless - while others appeared "severely damaged", he explained. Numerous victims displayed what he described as stab wounds.

In excess of 120 victims were fatally injured during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the most lethal operation the municipality has seen.

Bruno Itan reported that residents first notified him concerning the action in the early hours by community members from the Alemão area, who reached out telling him gunfire had erupted.

The eyewitness traveled to a local medical facility, where the victims were being brought.

The eyewitness reported that security forces prevented journalists from accessing the Penha neighborhood, where the police action was under way.

"Security forces formed a line and declared: 'The press are not allowed to pass'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who grew up in the area, stated he managed to enter past the security perimeter, where he continued through the night.

He explained that Tuesday night, local residents began to search the hillside that borders the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for loved ones who were unaccounted for following the security action.

Community members from the Penha area arranged the discovered victims in an open area - the documented evidence reveal the reaction of the people there.

"The violence of what occurred shook me profoundly: the pain of loved ones, women collapsing, expectant spouses, sobbing, angry family members," the reporter recounted.

The eyewitness

The state leader of the state stated that the extensive law enforcement effort deploying about 2,500 officers was intended to stopping a gang referred to as the criminal faction from expanding its territory.

Initially, the Rio state government claimed that sixty individuals and four police officers" lost their lives in the operation.

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

The public legal service, that gives legal support to low-income residents, has estimated the total number of people killed at 132.

Based on expert analysis, the criminal organization represents the unique criminal entity that recently has succeeded to make territorial gains across the region.

It is widely considered one of the two largest gangs in the country, in company with First Capital Command, and has a history spanning over five decades.

Per Brazilian journalist a specialist, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio extensively, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with area gang leaders joining the organization and acting as "operational allies".

The organization concentrates largely on narcotics distribution, but also smuggles guns, gold, fuel, alcohol smoking products.

According to the authorities, organization members are well armed and police said that throughout the operation, they came under attack using drone-delivered explosives.

The state leader of the state, the government representative, characterized gang affiliates as drug terrorists and referred to the law enforcement personnel who died during the operation as "heroes".

Nevertheless, the total of people killed in the operation has faced scrutiny from UN human rights officials stating they were "appalled".

In a media appearance the following day, Governor Castro defended the police force.

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

He added that the circumstances had escalated because the suspects fought back: "It resulted of the counterattack they carried out and the disproportionate use of force by those criminals."

The official additionally stated that the bodies presented by community members in Penha were "altered".

Through a message on online platforms, he asserted that some of them had been stripped of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "in order to shift blame onto the police".

Felipe Curi of Rio's civil police force additionally stated that military attire, protective equipment, and weapons" were taken away from the victims and displayed evidence seemingly depicting a person cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse