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Bruno Itan

A photographer who observed the consequences of an extensive law enforcement action in the Brazilian city has described how local people brought back badly injured victims of the deceased individuals.

The victims "kept piling up: the count kept increasing", the eyewitness stated. The total contained security forces.

One individual had been decapitated - additional victims were "severely damaged", he explained. Numerous victims displayed what he described as knife injuries.

In excess of 120 victims lost their lives during the security action on a criminal gang - the most lethal operation in the city.

The eyewitness stated that he initially learned about the operation in the early hours by local people living in Alemão, who sent him messages telling him an armed confrontation was occurring.

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

The eyewitness reported that the police prevented journalists from going into the affected area, where the operation were taking place.

"Law enforcement personnel created a barrier and announced: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."

But Itan, who spent his childhood in the area, explained he was able to enter into the cordoned-off area, where he remained through the night.

He reported during the night, local residents commenced searching the hillside that separates the Penha neighborhood from the adjacent Alemão area for family members who were unaccounted for since the police raid.

Community members living in Penha organized the located casualties in an open area - and Itan's photos show the reaction of those present.

"The violence of the situation impacted me a lot: the sorrow of relatives, parents losing consciousness, pregnant wives, sobbing, angry family members," the eyewitness remembered.

The photographer

The governor of Rio state announced that the large-scale security action with approximately 2,500 security personnel was intended to preventing a gang referred to as the criminal faction from expanding its territory.

Originally, local officials maintained that sixty alleged criminals and four police officers" were fatally injured in the raid.

Officials subsequently stated that their "preliminary" count suggests that 117 "suspects" were fatally injured.

Rio's public defender's office, that gives legal support to low-income residents, has put the total number of casualties to be 132.

Per investigative findings, 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 as a major illegal faction in Brazil, together with First Capital Command, with a background dating back more than 50 years.

Based on correspondent an expert, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio over many years, the gang "operates like a franchise" with neighborhood bosses forming part of the gang and becoming "business partners".

The criminal group concentrates largely on drug trafficking, but also smuggles firearms, gold, energy resources, liquor cigarettes.

Per law enforcement statements, gang members have substantial firearms and officials reported that during the raid, they faced assaults using drone-delivered explosives.

The governor of the state, the political leader, characterized gang affiliates as "narcoterrorists" and referred to the law enforcement personnel fatally injured in the action as brave public servants.

However, the count of fatalities in the operation has come in for criticism with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stating they were "horrified".

In a media appearance on Wednesday, the state leader justified security actions.

"There was no objective to cause fatalities. We wanted to arrest them all alive," he said.

He added that the events worsened as the individuals fought back: "It was a consequence of the counterattack they executed and the excessive violence by those criminals."

The governor further reported that the victims shown by residents in the neighborhood were "altered".

In a post through digital channels, he said that certain victims had been stripped of tactical gear he said they had been wearing "to transfer accusation to security forces".

A police official representing security forces additionally stated that "camouflage clothing, body armor, and weapons" were stripped from the bodies and presented video seemingly depicting a man removing tactical gear {off a corpse