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The photographer

A reporter who witnessed the results of a massive law enforcement action in the metropolitan area has recounted how residents returned with mutilated bodies of those who had died.

The victims "continued arriving: the numbers kept rising", the eyewitness stated. The total contained law enforcement personnel.

One individual was discovered headless - while others appeared "severely damaged", he explained. Numerous victims displayed what appeared to be stab wounds.

Over 120 individuals lost their lives during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang - the deadliest such raid Rio has experienced.

The photographer explained that he initially learned concerning the action Tuesday morning by community members of the Alemão neighbourhood, who sent him messages alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The reporter made his way to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the victims were coming in.

The eyewitness reported that security forces blocked media personnel from entering the Penha neighborhood, where the operation were occurring.

"Police officers formed a line and declared: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who was raised in that neighborhood, stated he succeeded to gain access into the restricted zone, where he stayed through the night.

He described that evening, community members started looking the hillside that separates the community of Penha and the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for family members who were unaccounted for following the security action.

Community members living in Penha proceeded to place the located casualties in an open area - the photographer's images show the emotions of the gathered crowd.

"The harsh reality of what occurred impacted me profoundly: the grief of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, pregnant wives, weeping, angry family members," the eyewitness remembered.

The eyewitness

The official of the region announced that the extensive law enforcement effort deploying about 2,500 law enforcement members was intended to preventing a criminal group called Comando Vermelho from growing their influence.

Initially, state authorities stated that sixty individuals along with four officers" were fatally injured in the raid.

Authorities later reported that initial estimates suggests that 117 "suspects" have been killed.

The legal assistance organization, that offers legal help to low-income residents, has calculated the final tally of people killed as 132.

According to researchers, Red Command stands as the sole illegal faction that in the past few years has succeeded to increase its control throughout Rio state.

It is generally regarded one of the two largest gangs in Brazil, alongside First Capital Command, and has a history extending half a century.

Based on correspondent Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting crime in Rio extensively, Red Command "works as a system" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and becoming "commercial associates".

The organization concentrates largely on narcotics distribution, additionally trafficking weapons, precious metals, fuel, beverages cigarettes.

Based on official reports, criminal affiliates are well armed and police said that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The state leader of the state, the government representative, described Red Command members as "narcoterrorists" and described the security forces who died during the operation as brave public servants.

However, the count of fatalities during the raid has received condemnation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights saying it was "shocked".

During a press briefing the next day, the state leader justified security actions.

"It wasn't our intention to result in deaths. We aimed to take suspects into custody without harm," he said.

He continued that the circumstances worsened due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It occurred of the counterattack they carried out and the overwhelming response by the illegal group."

The official also said that the victims displayed by locals in the neighborhood were "altered".

Via a statement on online platforms, he said that particular individuals had been taken of tactical gear which he claimed they wore "to transfer accusation to security forces".

Felipe Curi of Rio's civil police force also said that "camouflage clothing, body armor, and arms" were stripped from the victims and showed footage appearing to show a person cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse