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The eyewitness

A photographer who witnessed the consequences of a large-scale law enforcement action in the Brazilian city has described how local people returned with badly injured victims of the deceased individuals.

The victims "kept piling up: the count kept increasing", the photographer described. They included law enforcement personnel.

One of the bodies was discovered headless - while others appeared "totally disfigured", he reported. Many also had what he described as blade trauma.

Over 120 individuals were killed during the security action against a criminal group - the most lethal operation in the city.

The photographer reported that residents first notified him to the raid early on Tuesday by local people of the Alemão neighbourhood, who reached out alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The eyewitness traveled to a local medical facility, where the casualties were arriving.

Itan explained that the police prevented journalists from entering the affected area, where the police action was under way.

"Security forces established a perimeter and declared: 'The press are not allowed to pass'."

But Itan, who spent his childhood in that neighborhood, reported he was able to make his way into the cordoned-off area, where he remained through the night.

He described that Tuesday night, community members started looking the mountainous area which divides Penha from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Residents of the Penha neighbourhood organized the discovered victims in a square - and Itan's photos show the reaction of the gathered crowd.

"The harsh reality of what occurred shook me deeply: the sorrow of loved ones, women collapsing, expectant spouses, crying, furious relatives," the photographer recalled.

Bruno Itan

The official of the state stated that the large-scale security action with approximately 2,500 law enforcement members was designed to stopping a criminal group called Red Command from increasing their control.

Initially, the Rio state government stated that "60 suspects plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed in the raid.

Officials subsequently stated that early calculations indicates that 117 alleged criminals have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, that gives legal support to low-income residents, has calculated the final tally of people killed as 132.

Based on expert analysis, the gang stands as the sole illegal faction that in the past few years has succeeded to increase its control across the region.

Experts commonly view among the biggest criminal organizations in the country, in company with First Capital Command, featuring a timeline dating back more than 50 years.

Per correspondent a specialist, with extensive experience documenting crime in Rio extensively, the gang "operates like a franchise" with local criminal leaders joining the organization and acting as "business partners".

The criminal group focuses mainly on drug trafficking, additionally trafficking firearms, precious metals, energy resources, alcohol cigarettes.

Based on official reports, organization members have substantial firearms and authorities stated that during the raid, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The governor of the state, Cláudio Castro, labeled gang affiliates as criminal extremists and described the four police officers killed in the raid as courageous individuals.

But the number of fatalities in the operation has received condemnation from UN human rights officials stating they were "appalled".

During a press briefing on Wednesday, Governor Castro justified security actions.

"We did not plan to cause fatalities. We intended to take suspects into custody without harm," he said.

He further explained that the circumstances worsened as the individuals resisted aggressively: "It resulted of the retaliation they carried out and the overwhelming response by those criminals."

The governor additionally stated that the casualties displayed by locals in the area had been "manipulated".

Through a message on social media, he asserted that some of them had been stripped of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "to redirect responsibility onto the police".

A law enforcement representative representing security forces also said that military attire, protective equipment, and arms" had been removed from the casualties and presented video appearing to show an individual cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse