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The eyewitness

A photographer who documented the results of a large-scale security raid in the Brazilian city has recounted how local people returned with mutilated bodies of those who had died.

The bodies "continued arriving: the count kept increasing", the eyewitness described. They included law enforcement personnel.

A particular victim had been decapitated - additional victims were "severely damaged", he said. Numerous victims displayed evidence of stab wounds.

More than 120 people were fatally injured during Tuesday's raid targeting an illegal organization - the deadliest such raid the municipality has seen.

Bruno Itan explained that he was first alerted about the operation early on Tuesday by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who reached out telling him gunfire had erupted.

The photographer made his way to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the bodies were being brought.

The photographer stated that law enforcement prevented journalists from accessing the operation zone, where the operation were occurring.

"Police officers created a barrier and said: 'Media representatives cannot proceed beyond this point'."

But Itan, who grew up in the community, stated he was able to make his way into the cordoned-off area, where he continued until the next morning.

He explained that evening, community members started looking the mountainous area that borders the community of Penha and the neighboring Alemão community for loved ones who had been missing after the operation.

Local people from the Penha area organized the located casualties in an open area - the documented evidence reveal the reaction of those present.

"The harsh reality of the situation shook me deeply: the sorrow of relatives, women collapsing, expectant spouses, crying, angry family members," the reporter recounted.

The photographer

The state leader of the region declared that the massive police operation involving around 2,500 law enforcement members was intended to preventing a gang called the criminal faction from growing their influence.

At first, local officials claimed that "60 suspects along with four officers" were fatally injured during the action.

Authorities later reported that their "preliminary" count indicates that 117 alleged criminals have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, that offers legal help to disadvantaged individuals, has put the overall count of fatalities as 132.

According to researchers, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has been able to expand its territory throughout Rio state.

Experts commonly view among the biggest criminal organizations in the country, alongside a rival criminal group, and has a history dating back more than 50 years.

Based on Brazilian journalist Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio extensively, the criminal organization "operates like a franchise" with area gang leaders joining the organization and serving as "operational allies".

The criminal group concentrates largely on narcotics distribution, while also dealing in weapons, gold, energy resources, liquor cigarettes.

Per law enforcement statements, gang members possess significant weaponry and authorities stated that throughout the operation, they came under attack using drone-delivered explosives.

The official of the region, the government representative, characterized gang affiliates as drug terrorists and called the law enforcement personnel killed in the raid as brave public servants.

However, the count of people killed in the security action has come in for criticism from international human rights authorities saying it was "horrified".

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

"There was no objective to cause fatalities. We aimed to arrest them all alive," he stated.

He further explained that the circumstances intensified because the suspects fought back: "It was a consequence of the resistance they implemented and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The official further reported that the bodies shown by residents in the area had been "manipulated".

Via a statement through digital channels, he asserted that some of them had been removed of the camouflage clothing he said they had been wearing "in order to shift blame to security forces".

A law enforcement representative of Rio's civil police force also said that "camouflage clothing, vests, and arms" were taken away from the casualties and displayed evidence appearing to show a man cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse