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The photographer

An eyewitness who observed the results of a large-scale law enforcement action in the Brazilian city has described how residents came back with disfigured remains of the deceased individuals.

The victims "continued arriving: the numbers kept rising", the eyewitness stated. The total contained those of police officers.

A particular victim had been decapitated - additional victims were "totally disfigured", he said. Many also had what appeared to be blade trauma.

More than 120 people were killed during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the most lethal operation the municipality has seen.

The photographer reported that he was first alerted about the operation early on Tuesday by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who sent him messages informing him there was a shoot-out.

The photographer went to a local medical facility, where the victims were being brought.

The photographer stated that the police blocked media personnel from accessing the Penha neighborhood, where the operation were taking place.

"Law enforcement personnel established a perimeter and said: 'Media representatives are not allowed to pass'."

But Itan, who grew up in the area, stated he was able to gain access into the cordoned-off area, where he stayed until the next morning.

He reported that evening, local residents commenced searching the elevated terrain that separates the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for family members who had been missing after the operation.

Community members from the Penha area proceeded to place the located casualties in an open area - the photographer's images display the response of those present.

"The harsh reality of it all impacted me profoundly: the sorrow of the families, women collapsing, pregnant wives, weeping, furious relatives," the reporter recounted.

The eyewitness

The official of Rio state stated that the massive police operation deploying about 2,500 law enforcement members was designed to preventing an illegal organization called Comando Vermelho from expanding its territory.

Initially, state authorities stated that "60 suspects along with four officers" lost their lives in the operation.

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

The legal assistance organization, that offers legal help to disadvantaged individuals, has calculated the total number of casualties to be 132.

Per investigative findings, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has succeeded to increase its control throughout Rio state.

It is widely considered among the biggest criminal organizations in the country, alongside First Capital Command, with a background extending half a century.

Based on correspondent an expert, who has long reported on criminal activity in the city over many years, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with local criminal leaders affiliating with the group and serving as "operational allies".

The gang concentrates largely on narcotics distribution, additionally trafficking firearms, precious metals, petroleum products, liquor and tobacco.

According to the authorities, criminal affiliates have substantial firearms and authorities stated that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance using drone-delivered explosives.

The state leader of the state, the political leader, described organization participants as drug terrorists and described the law enforcement personnel fatally injured in the action as courageous individuals.

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

At a news conference the next day, the official justified security actions.

"We did not plan to kill anyone. We aimed to take suspects into custody without harm," he declared.

He further explained that the circumstances worsened because the suspects had retaliated: "It occurred of the counterattack they implemented and the overwhelming response by those criminals."

The official further reported that the bodies displayed by locals in the area had been "manipulated".

Via a statement on online platforms, he asserted that certain victims had been taken of the camouflage clothing which he claimed they wore "to redirect responsibility to security forces".

Felipe Curi from the police department further reported that military attire, protective equipment, and arms" were stripped from the victims and displayed evidence appearing to show an individual removing tactical gear {off a corpse