The bodies just kept coming - eyewitness describes lethal Rio law enforcement operation

Bruno Itan

A reporter who observed the results of a massive Brazilian police operation in the Brazilian city has reported how residents returned with mutilated bodies of people who lost their lives.

The bodies "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the eyewitness reported. Among them were law enforcement personnel.

One individual was found without a head - others were "severely damaged", he reported. Several bodies showed evidence of knife injuries.

More than 120 people lost their lives during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang - the deadliest such raid in the city.

The eyewitness reported that residents first notified him about the operation in the early hours by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who contacted him informing him there was a shoot-out.

The reporter traveled to a local medical facility, where the bodies were being brought.

The eyewitness reported that security forces stopped members of the press from accessing the affected area, where the security measures was under way.

"Security forces created a barrier and announced: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."

However, the photographer, who was raised in the area, explained he was able to gain access past the security perimeter, where he stayed through the night.

He reported that evening, local residents began to search the elevated terrain that separates Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for loved ones who had been missing after the operation.

Community members of the Penha neighbourhood proceeded to place the recovered bodies in an open area - the photographer's images reveal the emotions of the gathered crowd.

"The harsh reality of the situation affected me profoundly: the grief of loved ones, mothers fainting, expectant spouses, crying, outraged parents," the eyewitness remembered.

The photographer

The state leader of the state announced that the large-scale security action deploying about 2,500 officers was intended to preventing a criminal group called the criminal faction from expanding its territory.

Originally, local officials stated that sixty individuals along with four officers" were fatally injured during the action.

Officials subsequently stated that their "preliminary" count indicates that 117 "suspects" have been killed.

The public legal service, that gives legal support to the poor, has estimated the overall count of fatalities at 132.

Based on expert analysis, the gang represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has succeeded to make territorial gains throughout Rio state.

It is generally regarded one of the two largest gangs in the country, in company with a rival criminal group, and has a history extending half a century.

Per correspondent a specialist, who has been covering crime in Rio over many years, Red Command "works as a system" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and becoming "business partners".

The criminal group concentrates largely on drug trafficking, additionally trafficking guns, precious metals, fuel, alcohol cigarettes.

Based on official reports, gang members are well armed and police said that while the action was underway, they faced assaults using drone-delivered explosives.

The official of the state, the government representative, labeled organization participants as "narcoterrorists" and called the four police officers who died during the operation as brave public servants.

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

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

"There was no objective to result in deaths. We aimed to detain everyone safely," he stated.

He continued that the situation intensified as the individuals resisted aggressively: "It was a consequence of the retaliation they carried out and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The official also said that the victims shown by residents in the area were "altered".

Through a message on online platforms, he claimed that certain victims had been stripped of military-style attire he said they had been wearing "to redirect responsibility to security forces".

Felipe Curi of Rio's civil police force further reported that "camouflage clothing, vests, and arms" had been removed from the victims and displayed evidence seemingly depicting a man stripping military attire {off a corpse