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The photographer

An eyewitness who observed the aftermath of a massive Brazilian police operation in the Brazilian city has described how residents returned with mutilated bodies of those who had died.

The casualties "kept coming: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the eyewitness reported. Among them were security forces.

One of the bodies had been decapitated - additional victims were "totally disfigured", he explained. Many also had evidence of knife injuries.

In excess of 120 victims were killed during Tuesday's raid targeting an illegal organization - the most lethal operation the municipality has seen.

The eyewitness explained that he initially learned to the raid in the early hours by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who sent him messages telling him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The eyewitness traveled to the healthcare center, where the victims were being brought.

The photographer stated that law enforcement blocked media personnel from entering the affected area, where the police action were occurring.

"Security forces established a perimeter and said: 'The press cannot proceed beyond this point'."

However, the photographer, who was raised in that neighborhood, stated he was able to gain access into the cordoned-off area, where he continued until the next morning.

He described that evening, local residents commenced searching the mountainous area which divides the Penha neighborhood from the neighboring Alemão community for loved ones who had been missing since the police raid.

Community members from the Penha area proceeded to place the recovered bodies in an open area - the photographer's images display the response of those present.

"The violence of the situation affected me a lot: the grief of relatives, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, weeping, furious relatives," the photographer recalled.

The photographer

The official of the state announced that the extensive law enforcement effort with approximately 2,500 security personnel was designed to stopping an illegal organization known as Red Command from expanding its territory.

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

Officials subsequently stated that early calculations indicates that 117 "suspects" have been killed.

The public legal service, that gives legal support to disadvantaged individuals, has calculated the overall count of people killed as 132.

According to researchers, the gang represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has managed to increase its control across the region.

It is widely considered as a major illegal faction in Brazil, alongside another major gang, and has a history dating back more than 50 years.

According to correspondent an expert, with extensive experience documenting crime in Rio extensively, the criminal organization "works as a system" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and becoming "operational allies".

The gang engages primarily in illegal drug trade, while also dealing in weapons, gold, energy resources, beverages and tobacco.

Per law enforcement statements, criminal affiliates have substantial firearms and authorities stated that throughout the operation, they faced assaults using drone-delivered explosives.

The state leader of the region, the government representative, labeled organization participants as "narcoterrorists" and called the security forces killed in the raid as brave public servants.

However, the count of fatalities in the operation has faced scrutiny from international human rights authorities stating they were "appalled".

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

"We did not plan to kill anyone. We aimed to arrest them all alive," he stated.

He added that the circumstances worsened due to the alleged criminals fought back: "It resulted of the resistance they implemented and the excessive violence by those criminals."

The official also said that the bodies presented by community members in the neighborhood were "altered".

Through a message on online platforms, he claimed that some of them had been removed of tactical gear which he claimed they wore "to transfer accusation toward law enforcement".

A law enforcement representative representing security forces also said that "camouflage clothing, body armor, and weapons" were stripped from the victims and displayed evidence apparently demonstrating a person cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse