The victims kept arriving - reporter shares fatal Rio law enforcement operation

Bruno Itan

A photographer who observed the aftermath of a large-scale Brazilian police operation in Rio de Janeiro has described how local people returned with mutilated bodies of those who had died.

The casualties "kept coming: the count kept increasing", the photographer reported. The total contained security forces.

One of the bodies was found without a head - additional victims were "severely damaged", he reported. Several bodies showed evidence of blade trauma.

In excess of 120 victims were killed during Tuesday's raid targeting an illegal organization - the bloodiest action in the city.

The eyewitness stated that he initially learned about the operation in the early hours by local people of the Alemão neighbourhood, who sent him messages alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The reporter went to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the casualties were coming in.

The eyewitness reported that law enforcement prevented journalists from accessing the Penha neighborhood, where the operation were occurring.

"Security forces created a barrier and announced: 'The press doesn't get past here'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who grew up in the community, stated he succeeded to gain access into the restricted zone, where he continued until dawn.

He reported that Tuesday night, local residents started looking the hillside that borders the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Residents from the Penha area proceeded to place the recovered bodies in a public space - and Itan's photos reveal the reaction of those present.

"The harsh reality of the situation shook me a lot: the pain of loved ones, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, sobbing, angry family members," the reporter recounted.

The eyewitness

The governor of Rio state announced that the extensive law enforcement effort involving around 2,500 officers was intended to stopping a gang called Comando Vermelho from expanding its territory.

Originally, the Rio state government maintained that sixty individuals plus four law enforcement personnel" were fatally injured in the operation.

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

The public legal service, that gives legal support to the poor, has estimated the total number of people killed to be 132.

Per investigative findings, Red Command stands as the sole illegal faction which in recent years has been able to increase its control in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

It is widely considered among the biggest criminal organizations in Brazil, alongside another major gang, with a background dating back more than 50 years.

Based on Brazilian journalist an expert, who has been covering criminal activity in the city extensively, the criminal organization "works as a system" with neighborhood bosses joining the organization and acting as "business partners".

The organization concentrates largely on drug trafficking, additionally trafficking firearms, precious metals, energy resources, liquor smoking products.

Based on official reports, organization members have substantial firearms and authorities stated that while the action was underway, they faced assaults using drone-delivered explosives.

The official of Rio state, the government representative, described gang affiliates as drug terrorists and called the law enforcement personnel fatally injured in the action as "heroes".

But the number of people killed in the operation has come in for criticism with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stating they were "horrified".

During a press briefing on Wednesday, the official supported law enforcement.

"It wasn't our intention to kill anyone. We intended to take suspects into custody without harm," he declared.

He continued that the situation worsened due to the alleged criminals resisted aggressively: "It resulted of the resistance they implemented and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The state leader additionally stated that the victims presented by community members in Penha were "altered".

Via a statement through digital channels, he said that particular individuals had been stripped of military-style attire which he claimed they wore "in order to shift blame toward law enforcement".

A law enforcement representative from the police department also said that tactical gear, protective equipment, and weapons" were stripped from the victims and presented video seemingly depicting a person cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse