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The photographer

A photographer who observed the results of an extensive security raid in Rio de Janeiro has recounted how local people returned with disfigured remains of those who had died.

The casualties "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", Bruno Itan described. They included law enforcement personnel.

A particular victim was found without a head - while others appeared "severely damaged", he explained. Numerous victims displayed what appeared to be stab wounds.

Over 120 individuals lost their lives during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the bloodiest action in the city.

The eyewitness explained that residents first notified him to the raid early on Tuesday by local people living in Alemão, who reached out telling him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The photographer made his way to a local medical facility, where the victims were arriving.

The photographer stated that security forces prevented journalists from accessing the affected area, where the police action were taking place.

"Police officers established a perimeter and declared: 'The press doesn't get past here'."

But Itan, who was raised in that neighborhood, reported he succeeded to enter into the restricted zone, where he continued until dawn.

He described that Tuesday night, area inhabitants started looking the hillside that borders the community of Penha and the neighboring Alemão community for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown since the police raid.

Local people living in Penha organized the located casualties in an open area - the photographer's images display the reaction of those present.

"The violence of what occurred shook me deeply: the sorrow of loved ones, women collapsing, pregnant wives, sobbing, furious relatives," the photographer recalled.

The photographer

The state leader of Rio state announced that the large-scale security action with approximately 2,500 law enforcement members was intended to preventing an illegal organization known as Red Command from increasing their control.

At first, state authorities claimed that sixty alleged criminals along with four officers" were fatally injured during the action.

Officials subsequently stated that initial estimates suggests that 117 "suspects" lost their lives.

Rio's public defender's office, that offers legal help to low-income residents, has put the total number of people killed at 132.

Per investigative findings, Red Command is the only criminal group that in the past few years has been able to expand its territory throughout Rio state.

Experts commonly view one of the two largest gangs in Brazil, alongside a rival criminal group, with a background extending half a century.

Per reporter an expert, with extensive experience documenting criminal activity in the city extensively, Red Command "functions as a network" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and becoming "commercial associates".

The organization focuses mainly on narcotics distribution, additionally trafficking weapons, gold, fuel, alcohol and tobacco.

Per law enforcement statements, criminal affiliates are well armed and authorities stated that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance using drone-delivered explosives.

The governor of Rio state, Cláudio Castro, described gang affiliates as criminal extremists and described the security forces killed in the raid as brave public servants.

However, the count of fatalities during the raid has received condemnation from international human rights authorities expressing they felt "horrified".

In a media appearance the next day, the official justified security actions.

"It wasn't our intention to result in deaths. We intended to arrest them all alive," he said.

He added that the situation intensified as the individuals resisted aggressively: "It resulted of the retaliation they implemented and the disproportionate use of force by those criminals."

The official further reported that the casualties shown by residents in Penha had been "tampered with".

In a post on online platforms, he asserted that particular individuals had been removed of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "in order to shift blame to security forces".

A police official representing security forces additionally stated that military attire, protective equipment, and arms" were taken away from the victims and showed footage apparently demonstrating a person removing tactical gear {off a corpse