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Bruno Itan

A photographer who witnessed the aftermath of a large-scale security raid in the Brazilian city has recounted how community members brought back mutilated bodies of the deceased individuals.

The victims "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer described. The total contained those of police officers.

One of the bodies had been decapitated - others were "totally disfigured", he said. Several bodies showed what appeared to be stab wounds.

In excess of 120 victims lost their lives in the Tuesday operation against a criminal group - the most lethal operation the municipality has seen.

The photographer explained that residents first notified him concerning the action in the early hours by residents from the Alemão area, who contacted him alerting him gunfire had erupted.

The photographer traveled to the healthcare center, where the bodies were being brought.

The photographer stated that law enforcement stopped members of the press from accessing the Penha neighborhood, where the operation were taking place.

"Security forces created a barrier and said: 'Journalists doesn't get past here'."

But Itan, who grew up in the area, reported he was able to gain access into the restricted zone, where he stayed until the next morning.

He reported that Tuesday night, area inhabitants began to search the elevated terrain which divides the Penha neighborhood from the neighboring Alemão community for family members who had been missing since the police raid.

Local people living in Penha arranged the located casualties in a square - the photographer's images show the reaction of the gathered crowd.

"The brutality of what occurred impacted me profoundly: the sorrow of loved ones, women collapsing, women carrying children, weeping, furious relatives," the photographer recalled.

The photographer

The state leader of the region announced that the extensive law enforcement effort involving around 2,500 law enforcement members was aimed at stopping an illegal organization referred to as the criminal faction from growing their influence.

At first, local officials claimed that sixty alleged criminals plus four law enforcement personnel" lost their lives in the raid.

Authorities later reported that early calculations shows that 117 individuals were fatally injured.

The public legal service, that offers legal help to disadvantaged individuals, has calculated the final tally of people killed at 132.

Based on expert analysis, the gang represents the unique criminal entity that recently has been able to increase its control in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

It is widely considered one of the two largest gangs nationally, in company with First Capital Command, and has a history extending half a century.

Per correspondent Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio over many years, the criminal organization "operates like a franchise" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and serving as "commercial associates".

The criminal group focuses mainly on drug trafficking, but also smuggles guns, gold, energy resources, beverages cigarettes.

Based on official reports, organization members are well armed and police said that throughout the operation, they came under attack using drone-delivered explosives.

The official of the region, the government representative, described gang affiliates as "narcoterrorists" and described the law enforcement personnel who died during the operation as brave public servants.

However, the count of fatalities in the operation has come in for criticism from international human rights authorities stating they were "horrified".

At a news conference on Wednesday, the state leader justified security actions.

"There was no objective to cause fatalities. We wanted to detain everyone safely," he stated.

He continued that the circumstances worsened due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It resulted of the counterattack they carried out and the disproportionate use of force by those criminals."

The state leader also said that the victims shown by residents in the area had been "tampered with".

In a post on online platforms, he said that particular individuals had been stripped of military-style attire that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation onto the police".

A law enforcement representative of Rio's civil police force also said that tactical gear, vests, and firearms" had been removed from the bodies and displayed evidence seemingly depicting a person cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse