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The photographer

A photographer who observed the results of a massive Brazilian police operation in Rio de Janeiro has reported how community members brought back badly injured victims of those who had died.

The victims "kept piling up: the numbers kept rising", Bruno Itan described. Among them were law enforcement personnel.

A particular victim had been decapitated - while others appeared "severely damaged", he explained. Many also had what he described as stab wounds.

More than 120 people lost their lives during the security action against a criminal group - the deadliest such raid the municipality has seen.

The photographer reported that residents first notified him concerning the action early on Tuesday by community members living in Alemão, who reached out telling him gunfire had erupted.

The reporter went to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the casualties were being brought.

The photographer stated that the police prevented journalists from entering the affected area, where the operation were taking place.

"Police officers formed a line and announced: 'Media representatives cannot proceed beyond this point'."

But Itan, who grew up in the community, explained he managed to enter into the restricted zone, where he stayed until the next morning.

He explained that Tuesday night, community members began to search the hillside which divides the Penha neighborhood from the adjacent Alemão area for loved ones whose whereabouts were unknown since the police raid.

Local people from the Penha area arranged the located casualties in an open area - the photographer's images reveal the emotions of the people there.

"The violence of it all shook me deeply: the sorrow of relatives, parents losing consciousness, women carrying children, crying, outraged parents," the reporter recounted.

The eyewitness

The official of Rio state announced that the massive police operation with approximately 2,500 officers was intended to halting an illegal organization referred to as the criminal faction from increasing their control.

Originally, local officials stated that "60 suspects along with four officers" had been killed in the raid.

Authorities later reported that initial estimates shows that 117 alleged criminals lost their lives.

The legal assistance organization, that gives legal support to disadvantaged individuals, has estimated the final tally of casualties as 132.

Based on expert analysis, the criminal organization represents the unique criminal entity that recently has succeeded to expand its territory across the region.

It is generally regarded among the biggest criminal organizations in Brazil, in company with a rival criminal group, and has a history extending half a century.

Based on reporter an expert, who has long reported on crime in Rio for years, Red Command "works as a system" with neighborhood bosses forming part of the gang and becoming "business partners".

The criminal group engages primarily in drug trafficking, but also smuggles firearms, valuable minerals, petroleum products, liquor and tobacco.

Per law enforcement statements, organization members are well armed and officials reported that throughout the operation, they faced assaults from explosive-laden drones.

The governor of the region, Cláudio Castro, described Red Command members as drug terrorists and called the four police officers fatally injured in the action as "heroes".

But the number of casualties in the operation has come in for criticism with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights saying it was "appalled".

At a news conference the following day, the official defended the police force.

"It wasn't our intention to kill anyone. We aimed to detain everyone safely," he declared.

He added that the situation had escalated as the individuals fought back: "It resulted of the retaliation they executed and the excessive violence by those criminals."

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

In a post through digital channels, he said that some of them had been stripped of military-style attire that he stated they possessed "to redirect responsibility toward law enforcement".

Felipe Curi representing security forces additionally stated that tactical gear, vests, and weapons" had been removed from the casualties and presented video appearing to show a man cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse