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The photographer

A reporter who witnessed the aftermath of an extensive Brazilian police operation in the Brazilian city has recounted how residents came back with disfigured remains of those who had died.

The casualties "kept coming: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the eyewitness reported. They included law enforcement personnel.

One individual had been decapitated - additional victims were "totally disfigured", he explained. Many also had evidence of stab wounds.

More than 120 people were killed during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang - the deadliest such raid Rio has experienced.

The photographer stated that he initially learned concerning the action Tuesday morning by local people living in Alemão, who sent him messages alerting him there was a shoot-out.

The photographer made his way to a local medical facility, where the casualties were arriving.

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

"Police officers created a barrier and announced: 'The press are not allowed to pass'."

But Itan, who grew up in the community, stated he succeeded to gain access into the restricted zone, where he remained until the next morning.

He explained during the night, local residents commenced searching the elevated terrain that borders the community of Penha and the neighboring Alemão community for family members who were unaccounted for since the police raid.

Residents of the Penha neighbourhood organized the located casualties in an open area - the photographer's images show the response of the gathered crowd.

"The violence of what occurred affected me deeply: the sorrow of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, expectant spouses, sobbing, angry family members," the photographer recalled.

The photographer

The state leader of the region announced that the extensive law enforcement effort involving around 2,500 officers was aimed at preventing an illegal organization referred to as Comando Vermelho from expanding its territory.

Initially, local officials claimed that sixty individuals plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed in the operation.

Officials subsequently stated that initial estimates shows that 117 individuals were fatally injured.

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

Per investigative findings, the criminal organization is the only criminal group that recently has been able to increase its control throughout Rio state.

It is widely considered one of the two largest gangs in Brazil, alongside a rival criminal group, with a background dating back more than 50 years.

Per Brazilian journalist a specialist, who has been covering illegal operations in Rio extensively, Red Command "functions as a network" with local criminal leaders affiliating with the group and becoming "commercial associates".

The organization concentrates largely on illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking weapons, valuable minerals, petroleum products, beverages and tobacco.

Per law enforcement statements, gang members have substantial firearms and officials reported that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance using drone-delivered explosives.

The governor of Rio state, Cláudio Castro, described Red Command members as "narcoterrorists" and referred to the four police officers who died during the operation as "heroes".

But the number of casualties in the operation has come in for criticism from international human rights authorities saying it was "horrified".

In a media appearance the next day, Governor Castro justified security actions.

"It wasn't our intention to cause fatalities. We wanted to take suspects into custody without harm," he stated.

He further explained that the situation had escalated as the individuals resisted aggressively: "It resulted of the resistance they implemented and the disproportionate use of force by those criminals."

The official further reported that the bodies presented by community members in Penha had been "manipulated".

In a post through digital channels, he asserted that some of them had been taken of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "in order to shift blame to security forces".

A police official of Rio's civil police force additionally stated that tactical gear, vests, and firearms" were stripped from the casualties and presented video apparently demonstrating an individual removing tactical gear {off a corpse