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The photographer

A photographer who observed the consequences of a massive security raid in Rio de Janeiro has described how residents returned with mutilated bodies of the deceased individuals.

The bodies "kept piling up: the numbers kept rising", the photographer described. Among them were law enforcement personnel.

One individual had been decapitated - others were "severely damaged", he explained. Several bodies showed what appeared to be stab wounds.

Over 120 individuals lost their lives during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang - the bloodiest action the municipality has seen.

The eyewitness reported that he initially learned about the operation Tuesday morning by community members living in Alemão, who sent him messages telling him there was a shoot-out.

The reporter made his way to the healthcare center, where the victims were coming in.

The eyewitness reported that security forces blocked media personnel from entering the operation zone, where the police action were taking place.

"Police officers established a perimeter and said: 'The press doesn't get past here'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who spent his childhood in the community, explained he was able to make his way into the cordoned-off area, where he stayed until dawn.

He explained that Tuesday night, community members commenced searching the elevated terrain that separates Penha from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for loved ones who had been missing since the police raid.

Local people of the Penha neighbourhood arranged the discovered victims in an open area - the photographer's images reveal the emotions of those present.

"The violence of it all affected me a lot: the grief of relatives, parents losing consciousness, women carrying children, weeping, furious relatives," the eyewitness remembered.

Bruno Itan

The governor of Rio state declared that the extensive law enforcement effort deploying about 2,500 officers was aimed at preventing an illegal organization known as the criminal faction from growing their influence.

Initially, state authorities claimed that "60 suspects and four police officers" had been killed in the raid.

Officials subsequently stated that initial estimates shows that 117 "suspects" lost their lives.

The public legal service, which provides legal assistance to the poor, has calculated the total number of people killed to be 132.

Based on expert analysis, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity that in the past few years has been able to increase its control throughout Rio state.

Experts commonly view among the biggest criminal organizations nationally, together with a rival criminal group, featuring a timeline dating back more than 50 years.

Per correspondent a specialist, who has been covering criminal activity in the city over many years, the gang "works as a system" with neighborhood bosses forming part of the gang and becoming "business partners".

The gang concentrates largely on narcotics distribution, but also smuggles weapons, gold, petroleum products, alcohol cigarettes.

Based on official reports, criminal affiliates have substantial firearms and officials reported that during the raid, they faced assaults using drone-delivered explosives.

The state leader of Rio state, the government representative, characterized organization participants as drug terrorists and described the security forces who died during the operation as "heroes".

But the number of casualties in the security action has faced scrutiny with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights saying it was "appalled".

In a media appearance on Wednesday, the official defended the police force.

"It wasn't our intention to kill anyone. We wanted to detain everyone safely," he declared.

He further explained that the events intensified due to the alleged criminals fought back: "It occurred of the counterattack they implemented and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

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

Through a message on social media, he said that certain victims had been taken of military-style attire which he claimed they wore "to transfer accusation onto the police".

A law enforcement representative from the police department further reported that military attire, protective equipment, and arms" were stripped from the bodies and showed footage appearing to show a man cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse