The casualties continued piling up - photographer recounts lethal Rio security action

The photographer

An eyewitness who witnessed the consequences of an extensive law enforcement action in the metropolitan area has recounted how local people brought back disfigured remains of the deceased individuals.

The victims "kept piling up: the numbers kept rising", Bruno Itan described. Among them were security forces.

A particular victim was discovered headless - additional victims were "completely mutilated", he explained. Numerous victims displayed evidence of blade trauma.

Over 120 individuals were killed during the security action on a criminal gang - the most lethal operation Rio has experienced.

The photographer explained that residents first notified him about the operation Tuesday morning by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who contacted him informing him there was a shoot-out.

The eyewitness went to a local medical facility, where the casualties were coming in.

The photographer stated that the police blocked media personnel from going into the affected area, where the security measures were occurring.

"Police officers established a perimeter and declared: 'Media representatives are not allowed to pass'."

But Itan, who was raised in the area, reported he succeeded to gain access into the cordoned-off area, where he stayed until the next morning.

He described during the night, local residents started looking the mountainous area that separates Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for family members who were unaccounted for after the operation.

Community members from the Penha area proceeded to place the located casualties in a public space - the photographer's images show the response of the people there.

"The harsh reality of the situation shook me profoundly: the grief of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, pregnant wives, sobbing, furious relatives," the eyewitness remembered.

Bruno Itan

The official of Rio state declared that the massive police operation with approximately 2,500 officers was intended to stopping an illegal organization referred to as Comando Vermelho from growing their influence.

Initially, the Rio state government claimed that "60 suspects and four police officers" were fatally injured in the raid.

They have since said that initial estimates indicates that 117 "suspects" have been killed.

The public legal service, that gives legal support to low-income residents, has estimated the final tally of casualties to be 132.

According to researchers, the criminal organization represents the unique criminal entity that in the past few years has been able to make territorial gains across the region.

Experts commonly view as a major illegal faction in Brazil, together with First Capital Command, featuring a timeline spanning over five decades.

According to reporter a specialist, who has been covering crime in Rio for years, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and serving as "commercial associates".

The criminal group focuses mainly on illegal drug trade, while also dealing in weapons, valuable minerals, energy resources, liquor cigarettes.

Per law enforcement statements, criminal affiliates are well armed and authorities stated that while the action was underway, they faced assaults via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The state leader of the region, Cláudio Castro, labeled Red Command members as "narcoterrorists" and described the security forces fatally injured in the action as courageous individuals.

But the number of people killed during the raid has faced scrutiny from UN human rights officials saying it was "appalled".

During a press briefing on Wednesday, the official justified security actions.

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

He further explained that the situation had escalated as the individuals had retaliated: "It resulted of the retaliation they carried out and the excessive violence from the gang members."

The official also said that the victims shown by residents in the neighborhood had been "tampered with".

In a post through digital channels, he claimed that particular individuals had been removed of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "to redirect responsibility onto the police".

A law enforcement representative of Rio's civil police force also said that "camouflage clothing, protective equipment, and weapons" were taken away from the victims and presented video seemingly depicting an individual cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse