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The eyewitness

A reporter who observed the results of a massive Brazilian police operation in the metropolitan area has reported how residents came back with mutilated bodies of the deceased individuals.

The casualties "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the eyewitness stated. The total contained those of police officers.

A particular victim was found without a head - others were "completely mutilated", he reported. Numerous victims displayed evidence of blade trauma.

Over 120 individuals were killed in the Tuesday operation on a criminal gang - the bloodiest action the municipality has seen.

Bruno Itan stated that he initially learned to the raid Tuesday morning by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who contacted him alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The eyewitness went to a local medical facility, where the casualties were being brought.

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

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

However, the photographer, who grew up in the area, explained he succeeded to gain access past the security perimeter, where he continued through the night.

He explained that evening, local residents began to search the hillside which divides Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for relatives who had been missing after the operation.

Residents of the Penha neighbourhood organized the recovered bodies in a square - the documented evidence display the reaction of the gathered crowd.

"The violence of it all affected me profoundly: the grief of the families, women collapsing, pregnant wives, sobbing, outraged parents," the eyewitness remembered.

The photographer

The official of the state announced that the extensive law enforcement effort involving around 2,500 security personnel was intended to preventing an illegal organization known as Comando Vermelho from growing their influence.

At first, state authorities stated that "60 suspects along with four officers" lost their lives in the raid.

They have since said that their "preliminary" count suggests that 117 alleged criminals lost their lives.

The public legal service, that gives legal support to low-income residents, has put the final tally of fatalities as 132.

Based on expert analysis, Red Command stands as the sole illegal faction that recently has managed to expand its territory in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Experts commonly view among the biggest criminal organizations nationally, in company with a rival criminal group, and has a history spanning over five decades.

Per reporter a specialist, who has long reported on crime in Rio extensively, the gang "operates like a franchise" with neighborhood bosses forming part of the gang and becoming "commercial associates".

The criminal group engages primarily in illegal drug trade, while also dealing in guns, precious metals, energy resources, liquor and tobacco.

According to the authorities, criminal affiliates are well armed and authorities stated that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The official of the region, the political leader, labeled Red Command members as "narcoterrorists" and described the security forces who died during the operation as courageous individuals.

Nevertheless, the total of people killed during the raid has come in for criticism with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressing they felt "shocked".

During a press briefing the next day, the official justified security actions.

"There was no objective to kill anyone. We aimed to detain everyone safely," he stated.

He further explained that the situation had escalated because the suspects had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the counterattack they carried out and the disproportionate use of force by those criminals."

The state leader also said that the victims displayed by locals in the area were "altered".

Through a message on online platforms, he asserted that particular individuals had been taken of military-style attire that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation to security forces".

A police official representing security forces further reported that "camouflage clothing, body armor, and firearms" were taken away from the casualties and presented video apparently demonstrating an individual removing tactical gear {off a corpse