The casualties continued piling up - reporter shares lethal Rio security action

Bruno Itan

A reporter who witnessed the aftermath of a massive Brazilian police operation in the Brazilian city has recounted how community members brought back disfigured remains of those who had died.

The casualties "kept coming: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the eyewitness stated. The total contained law enforcement personnel.

One of the bodies had been decapitated - while others appeared "totally disfigured", he said. Several bodies showed what appeared to be stab wounds.

In excess of 120 victims were fatally injured during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the most lethal operation in the city.

The photographer stated that he initially learned concerning the action in the early hours by community members of the Alemão neighbourhood, who sent him messages telling him there was a shoot-out.

The eyewitness traveled to a local medical facility, where the victims were arriving.

Itan explained that security forces blocked media personnel from going into the operation zone, where the operation were occurring.

"Security forces created a barrier and said: 'Media representatives doesn't get past here'."

But Itan, who was raised in the area, explained he succeeded to make his way into the restricted zone, where he stayed through the night.

He reported during the night, community members began to search the hillside that separates the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Local people living in Penha proceeded to place the discovered victims in an open area - the photographer's images reveal the response of those present.

"The violence of what occurred affected me profoundly: the pain of loved ones, women collapsing, expectant spouses, sobbing, angry family members," the reporter recounted.

The photographer

The state leader of Rio state declared that the massive police operation deploying about 2,500 officers was intended to stopping a criminal group known as the criminal faction from increasing their control.

Originally, local officials maintained that "60 suspects plus four law enforcement personnel" were fatally injured in the raid.

Authorities later reported that their "preliminary" count shows that 117 individuals lost their lives.

Rio's public defender's office, that gives legal support to low-income residents, has put the total number of casualties as 132.

Per investigative findings, the criminal organization stands as the sole illegal faction that in the past few years has managed to increase its control in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

It is widely considered among the biggest criminal organizations nationally, alongside First Capital Command, with a background spanning over five decades.

Per reporter an expert, who has long reported on crime in Rio for years, Red Command "functions as a network" with neighborhood bosses affiliating with the group and serving as "business partners".

The organization focuses mainly on drug trafficking, but also smuggles guns, valuable minerals, petroleum products, beverages and tobacco.

According to the authorities, organization members possess significant weaponry and officials reported that throughout the operation, they came under attack from explosive-laden drones.

The governor of the region, Cláudio Castro, labeled Red Command members as "narcoterrorists" and described the security forces who died during the operation as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of fatalities in the operation has come in for criticism from UN human rights officials saying it was "horrified".

In a media appearance the following day, the official defended the police force.

"There was no objective to kill anyone. We wanted to take suspects into custody without harm," he stated.

He added that the circumstances worsened due to the alleged criminals fought back: "It occurred of the resistance they implemented and the disproportionate use of force by those criminals."

The official additionally stated that the bodies presented by community members in the area were "altered".

Via a statement through digital channels, he claimed that particular individuals had been taken of military-style attire he said they had been wearing "in order to shift blame onto the police".

Felipe Curi of Rio's civil police force also said that "camouflage clothing, vests, and firearms" were taken away from the casualties and presented video apparently demonstrating a man removing tactical gear {off a corpse