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The photographer

A photographer who witnessed the consequences of a massive security raid in Rio de Janeiro has described how community members returned with badly injured victims of the deceased individuals.

The victims "kept coming: the numbers kept rising", Bruno Itan described. They included those of police officers.

A particular victim was found without a head - while others appeared "severely damaged", he explained. Many also had what he described as stab wounds.

In excess of 120 victims were killed during Tuesday's raid against a criminal group - the deadliest such raid the municipality has seen.

Bruno Itan explained that residents first notified him to the raid early on Tuesday by residents living in Alemão, who reached out telling him gunfire had erupted.

The eyewitness went to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the bodies were arriving.

The photographer stated that law enforcement blocked media personnel from entering the operation zone, where the police action were taking place.

"Law enforcement personnel created a barrier and said: 'Journalists doesn't get past here'."

But Itan, who spent his childhood in the community, explained he was able to gain access into the cordoned-off area, where he stayed until the next morning.

He described during the night, community members started looking the mountainous area which divides the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for family members who were unaccounted for after the operation.

Local people of the Penha neighbourhood proceeded to place the recovered bodies in a square - the photographer's images display the response of the people there.

"The harsh reality of the situation shook me deeply: the sorrow of the families, parents losing consciousness, women carrying children, sobbing, angry family members," the reporter recounted.

Bruno Itan

The official of Rio state announced that the extensive law enforcement effort with approximately 2,500 officers was aimed at halting a criminal group referred to as Red Command from expanding its territory.

Initially, state authorities claimed that sixty individuals along with four officers" had been killed during the action.

They have since said that initial estimates indicates that 117 "suspects" lost their lives.

The legal assistance organization, that offers legal help to low-income residents, has estimated the final tally of fatalities as 132.

According to researchers, the gang stands as the sole illegal faction that recently has succeeded to make territorial gains across the region.

It is generally regarded among the biggest criminal organizations in the country, together with a rival criminal group, with a background spanning over five decades.

Per Brazilian journalist an expert, who has long reported on crime in Rio over many years, Red Command "works as a system" with neighborhood bosses affiliating with the group and serving as "operational allies".

The organization concentrates largely on illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking firearms, valuable minerals, fuel, beverages smoking products.

According to the authorities, organization members possess significant weaponry and authorities stated that while the action was underway, they faced assaults from explosive-laden drones.

The state leader of Rio state, the political leader, described organization participants as criminal extremists and described the law enforcement personnel who died during the operation as brave public servants.

But the number of fatalities in the operation has come in for criticism from international human rights authorities saying it was "shocked".

At a news conference the next day, the official supported law enforcement.

"It wasn't our intention to cause fatalities. We aimed to take suspects into custody without harm," he declared.

He further explained that the situation had escalated due to the alleged criminals fought back: "It occurred of the retaliation they carried out and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The official also said that the victims presented by community members in the area had been "tampered with".

Via a statement on online platforms, he claimed that some of them had been stripped of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation onto the police".

Felipe Curi from the police department further reported that tactical gear, protective equipment, and weapons" had been removed from the casualties and displayed evidence appearing to show an individual cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse