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The photographer

A reporter who documented the consequences of an extensive security raid in the metropolitan area has recounted how community members came back with disfigured remains of those who had died.

The bodies "continued arriving: the numbers kept rising", the photographer described. Among them were security forces.

One individual was found without a head - others were "severely damaged", he said. Many also had evidence of blade trauma.

In excess of 120 victims lost their lives during the security action on a criminal gang - the deadliest such raid in the city.

The eyewitness stated that residents first notified him concerning the action Tuesday morning by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who reached out informing him gunfire had erupted.

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

The photographer stated that the police prevented journalists from entering the Penha neighborhood, where the security measures were occurring.

"Police officers created a barrier and declared: 'The press are not allowed to pass'."

But Itan, who grew up in the area, reported he managed to enter into the cordoned-off area, where he remained until the next morning.

He described during the night, local residents started looking the hillside that separates the Penha neighborhood from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown since the police raid.

Residents of the Penha neighbourhood proceeded to place the located casualties in a square - the photographer's images reveal the emotions of the people there.

"The harsh reality of it all affected me a lot: the pain of relatives, women collapsing, expectant spouses, crying, outraged parents," the reporter recounted.

The eyewitness

The state leader of the state declared that the extensive law enforcement effort deploying about 2,500 law enforcement members was aimed at halting a criminal group known as the criminal faction from expanding its territory.

Originally, local officials claimed that sixty alleged criminals and four police officers" were fatally injured during the action.

Officials subsequently stated that early calculations shows that 117 individuals have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, that gives legal support to low-income residents, has estimated the final tally of fatalities as 132.

Per investigative findings, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity that in the past few years has succeeded to make territorial gains throughout Rio state.

It is widely considered one of the two largest gangs in the country, together with First Capital Command, featuring a timeline spanning over five decades.

According to Brazilian journalist an expert, who has long reported on criminal activity in the city over many years, Red Command "functions as a network" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and becoming "commercial associates".

The organization engages primarily in drug trafficking, but also smuggles firearms, precious metals, energy resources, beverages and tobacco.

Based on official reports, organization members have substantial firearms and officials reported that throughout the operation, they faced assaults using drone-delivered explosives.

The official of Rio state, the government representative, labeled organization participants as drug terrorists and described the security forces killed in the raid as "heroes".

However, the count of people killed in the security action has received condemnation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stating they were "appalled".

In a media appearance on Wednesday, the state leader supported law enforcement.

"We did not plan to result in deaths. We intended to detain everyone safely," he said.

He continued that the circumstances had escalated as the individuals had retaliated: "It resulted of the counterattack they carried out and the disproportionate use of force by the illegal group."

The state leader further reported that the casualties displayed by locals in the area had been "tampered with".

In a post through digital channels, he asserted that certain victims had been removed of tactical gear which he claimed they wore "in order to shift blame onto the police".

Felipe Curi from the police department additionally stated that "camouflage clothing, protective equipment, and firearms" were taken away from the victims and displayed evidence appearing to show a person stripping military attire {off a corpse