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Bruno Itan

A reporter who witnessed the aftermath of a large-scale Brazilian police operation in the Brazilian city has described how community members came back with mutilated bodies of the deceased individuals.

The bodies "kept coming: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", Bruno Itan reported. They included those of police officers.

One individual had been decapitated - while others appeared "completely mutilated", he explained. Many also had what appeared to be knife injuries.

In excess of 120 victims were killed during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang - the bloodiest action in the city.

The eyewitness stated that he was first alerted concerning the action in the early hours by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who contacted him telling him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The reporter traveled to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the victims were coming in.

Itan explained that the police prevented journalists from entering the affected area, where the security measures were taking place.

"Law enforcement personnel formed a line and announced: 'Media representatives are not allowed to pass'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who was raised in that neighborhood, reported he managed to enter into the cordoned-off area, where he stayed until dawn.

He explained that Tuesday night, area inhabitants began to search the hillside which divides Penha from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for loved ones whose whereabouts were unknown since the police raid.

Community members of the Penha neighbourhood arranged the recovered bodies in an open area - the photographer's images show the reaction of those present.

"The brutality of the situation affected me a lot: the pain of loved ones, mothers fainting, women carrying children, weeping, furious relatives," the eyewitness remembered.

The eyewitness

The governor of Rio state announced that the large-scale security action deploying about 2,500 law enforcement members was aimed at preventing a gang called Red Command from increasing their control.

At first, state authorities claimed that sixty individuals along with four officers" lost their lives in the operation.

Authorities later reported that their "preliminary" count shows that 117 "suspects" have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, which provides legal assistance to disadvantaged individuals, has put the final tally of fatalities as 132.

Based on expert analysis, the criminal organization represents the unique criminal entity that recently has succeeded to increase its control throughout Rio state.

Experts commonly view one of the two largest gangs in the country, alongside First Capital Command, with a background extending half a century.

Per correspondent a specialist, who has been covering illegal operations in Rio over many years, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and acting as "business partners".

The criminal group focuses mainly on drug trafficking, while also dealing in weapons, gold, petroleum products, beverages smoking products.

Based on official reports, gang members have substantial firearms and officials reported that while the action was underway, they came under attack using drone-delivered explosives.

The official of Rio state, the political leader, described Red Command members as criminal extremists and called the security forces who died during the operation as brave public servants.

But the number of casualties in the operation has faced scrutiny from international human rights authorities stating they were "horrified".

At a news conference the next day, Governor Castro defended the police force.

"It wasn't our intention to result in deaths. We wanted to detain everyone safely," he said.

He added that the circumstances had escalated because the suspects had retaliated: "It occurred of the resistance they carried out and the excessive violence by the illegal group."

The state leader further reported that the victims shown by residents in the neighborhood had been "manipulated".

Through a message through digital channels, he claimed that particular individuals had been stripped of military-style attire which he claimed they wore "in order to shift blame to security forces".

A law enforcement representative representing security forces additionally stated that military attire, protective equipment, and weapons" were taken away from the casualties and showed footage appearing to show an individual stripping military attire {off a corpse