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The eyewitness

A reporter who documented the results of an extensive security raid in Rio de Janeiro has recounted how community members came back with mutilated bodies of those who had died.

The bodies "kept piling up: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer described. Among them were security forces.

A particular victim had been decapitated - others were "completely mutilated", he explained. Many also had what appeared to be stab wounds.

Over 120 individuals lost their lives in the Tuesday operation targeting an illegal organization - the most lethal operation Rio has experienced.

The photographer explained that he was first alerted about the operation early on Tuesday by local people living in Alemão, who contacted him informing him there was a shoot-out.

The photographer made his way to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the casualties were arriving.

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

"Law enforcement personnel established a perimeter and declared: 'The press are not allowed to pass'."

But Itan, who was raised in the area, stated he was able to gain access into the restricted zone, where he continued until the next morning.

He described that Tuesday night, area inhabitants started looking the elevated terrain which divides Penha from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for family members whose whereabouts were unknown after the operation.

Community members living in Penha proceeded to place the located casualties in a square - and Itan's photos display the response of the people there.

"The violence of what occurred impacted me profoundly: the sorrow of the families, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, weeping, angry family members," the reporter recounted.

Bruno Itan

The official of the region declared that the extensive law enforcement effort involving around 2,500 security personnel was designed to halting a criminal group called Comando Vermelho from increasing their control.

At first, local officials maintained that "60 suspects along with four officers" had been killed in the operation.

Officials subsequently stated that their "preliminary" count indicates that 117 individuals were fatally injured.

Rio's public defender's office, which provides legal assistance to low-income residents, has estimated the final tally of fatalities at 132.

Based on expert analysis, the gang is the only criminal group that recently has succeeded to make territorial gains in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Experts commonly view as a major illegal faction in Brazil, together with another major gang, with a background dating back more than 50 years.

Based on reporter Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting criminal activity in the city over many years, the criminal organization "operates like a franchise" with neighborhood bosses affiliating with the group and serving as "operational allies".

The organization concentrates largely on drug trafficking, but also smuggles firearms, precious metals, fuel, beverages and tobacco.

Based on official reports, organization members possess significant weaponry and police said that while the action was underway, they faced assaults from explosive-laden drones.

The governor of the region, the political leader, labeled Red Command members as drug terrorists and called the four police officers fatally injured in the action as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of people killed in the operation has come in for criticism from international human rights authorities expressing they felt "appalled".

At a news conference the next day, the official justified security actions.

"It wasn't our intention to kill anyone. We wanted to arrest them all alive," he said.

He added that the situation worsened as the individuals had retaliated: "It occurred of the resistance they implemented and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The state leader also said that the bodies displayed by locals in Penha were "altered".

In a post through digital channels, he claimed that some of them had been stripped of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "to redirect responsibility toward law enforcement".

Felipe Curi representing security forces additionally stated that military attire, vests, and arms" had been removed from the casualties and showed footage seemingly depicting a man stripping military attire {off a corpse