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The photographer

A photographer who observed the aftermath of a massive Brazilian police operation in the metropolitan area has described how residents came back with mutilated bodies of people who lost their lives.

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

A particular victim was found without a head - additional victims were "totally disfigured", he explained. Numerous victims displayed what appeared to be stab wounds.

Over 120 individuals were fatally injured during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the most lethal operation in the city.

The photographer reported that residents first notified him to the raid in the early hours by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who reached out telling him gunfire had erupted.

The reporter made his way to a local medical facility, where the casualties were coming in.

The eyewitness reported that security forces prevented journalists from going into the Penha neighborhood, where the security measures were taking place.

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

But Itan, who grew up in the area, explained he succeeded to gain access into the cordoned-off area, where he remained until dawn.

He described that evening, local residents started looking the mountainous area which divides Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for family members who had been missing following the security action.

Residents living in Penha arranged the recovered bodies in a public space - the photographer's images reveal the emotions of those present.

"The violence of what occurred shook me deeply: the pain of relatives, parents losing consciousness, expectant spouses, sobbing, furious relatives," the eyewitness remembered.

Bruno Itan

The official of Rio state announced that the massive police operation deploying about 2,500 security personnel was designed to preventing an illegal organization known as the criminal faction from increasing their control.

Originally, local officials maintained that sixty alleged criminals along with four officers" had been killed in the raid.

Authorities later reported that their "preliminary" count shows that 117 "suspects" have been killed.

The legal assistance organization, that gives legal support to the poor, has calculated the overall count of casualties to be 132.

Based on expert analysis, the criminal organization represents the unique criminal entity that in the past few years has been able to expand its territory throughout Rio state.

It is widely considered one of the two largest gangs in the country, together with a rival criminal group, with a background spanning over five decades.

Based on correspondent an expert, who has long reported on illegal operations in Rio extensively, the gang "functions as a network" with local criminal leaders affiliating with the group and acting as "business partners".

The gang engages primarily in narcotics distribution, but also smuggles guns, valuable minerals, fuel, beverages smoking products.

According to the authorities, criminal affiliates possess significant weaponry and authorities stated that during the raid, they came under attack using drone-delivered explosives.

The state leader of Rio state, the government representative, described organization participants as criminal extremists and described the law enforcement personnel who died during the operation as "heroes".

Nevertheless, the total of casualties in the operation has faced scrutiny from UN human rights officials expressing they felt "appalled".

During a press briefing on Wednesday, Governor Castro justified security actions.

"We did not plan to cause fatalities. We wanted to arrest them all alive," he stated.

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

The governor additionally stated that the casualties shown by residents in Penha had been "manipulated".

Via a statement on online platforms, he asserted that certain victims had been stripped of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "in order to shift blame onto the police".

Felipe Curi from the police department additionally stated that military attire, vests, and arms" were taken away from the casualties and displayed evidence appearing to show a man stripping military attire {off a corpse