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The photographer

A photographer who witnessed the aftermath of an extensive Brazilian police operation in the metropolitan area has recounted how community members brought back badly injured victims of the deceased individuals.

The victims "kept coming: the count kept increasing", the eyewitness described. They included security forces.

One of the bodies had been decapitated - while others appeared "totally disfigured", he explained. Numerous victims displayed what appeared to be knife injuries.

Over 120 individuals were fatally injured in the Tuesday operation against a criminal group - the most lethal operation Rio has experienced.

Bruno Itan explained that residents first notified him concerning the action early on Tuesday by local people living in Alemão, who sent him messages telling him gunfire had erupted.

The reporter made his way to a local medical facility, where the bodies were coming in.

The photographer stated that law enforcement prevented journalists from accessing the operation zone, where the operation was under way.

"Law enforcement personnel formed a line and said: 'Media representatives doesn't get past here'."

However, the photographer, who grew up in that neighborhood, explained he managed to enter into the restricted zone, where he continued through the night.

He reported during the night, local residents commenced searching the hillside that borders the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown since the police raid.

Local people of the Penha neighbourhood arranged the discovered victims in a public space - the documented evidence display the emotions of the people there.

"The harsh reality of it all affected me deeply: the pain of loved ones, women collapsing, pregnant wives, crying, angry family members," the photographer recalled.

The photographer

The governor of the region stated that the massive police operation involving around 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 individuals along with four officers" lost their lives in the raid.

Authorities later reported that early calculations suggests that 117 individuals have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, which provides legal assistance to low-income residents, has estimated the total number of fatalities as 132.

Per investigative findings, the criminal organization stands as the sole illegal faction that recently has succeeded to make territorial gains throughout Rio state.

It is widely considered as a major illegal faction nationally, alongside First Capital Command, and has a history extending half a century.

Per reporter an expert, who has long reported on criminal activity in the city over many years, the criminal organization "operates like a franchise" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and becoming "business partners".

The gang engages primarily in narcotics distribution, but also smuggles guns, precious metals, energy resources, alcohol smoking products.

According to the authorities, criminal affiliates are well armed and authorities stated that during the raid, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The official of Rio state, the political leader, characterized gang affiliates as "narcoterrorists" and referred to the four police officers who died during the operation as brave public servants.

However, the count of fatalities in the security action has received condemnation from international human rights authorities saying it was "horrified".

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

"There was no objective to kill anyone. We wanted to arrest them all alive," he stated.

He continued that the situation intensified as the individuals fought back: "It occurred of the counterattack they executed and the excessive violence from the gang members."

The official further reported that the bodies presented by community members in Penha had been "manipulated".

Via a statement through digital channels, he claimed that particular individuals had been stripped of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation toward law enforcement".

A police official representing security forces further reported that "camouflage clothing, body armor, and weapons" were taken away from the victims and presented video apparently demonstrating an individual cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse