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The photographer

A photographer who witnessed the consequences of an extensive Brazilian police operation in the metropolitan area has described how local people returned with badly injured victims of those who had died.

The victims "continued arriving: the numbers kept rising", the photographer described. Among them were those of police officers.

One of the bodies was discovered headless - additional victims were "completely mutilated", he said. Several bodies showed what appeared to be stab wounds.

More than 120 people were killed in the Tuesday operation on a criminal gang - the most lethal operation Rio has experienced.

Bruno Itan reported that he was first alerted about the operation in the early hours by community members from the Alemão area, who sent him messages informing him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The photographer traveled to a local medical facility, where the casualties were being brought.

The eyewitness reported that the police blocked media personnel from accessing the Penha neighborhood, where the operation were taking place.

"Police officers created a barrier and declared: 'Journalists doesn't get past here'."

However, the photographer, who spent his childhood in that neighborhood, reported he succeeded to gain access past the security perimeter, where he remained until the next morning.

He explained during the night, community members started looking the mountainous area that borders Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for relatives who had been missing since the police raid.

Residents of the Penha neighbourhood proceeded to place the discovered victims in an open area - the photographer's images reveal the emotions of the gathered crowd.

"The harsh reality of the situation impacted me deeply: the grief of the families, parents losing consciousness, pregnant wives, weeping, outraged parents," the reporter recounted.

The photographer

The governor of the state declared that the large-scale security action with approximately 2,500 security personnel was designed to stopping a gang known as the criminal faction from growing their influence.

Initially, state authorities maintained that "60 suspects plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed during the action.

Officials subsequently stated that initial estimates suggests that 117 alleged criminals were fatally injured.

The public legal service, that gives legal support to disadvantaged individuals, has estimated the final tally of casualties at 132.

Based on expert analysis, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has been able to increase its control in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Experts commonly view as a major illegal faction in Brazil, alongside a rival criminal group, with a background dating back more than 50 years.

Per Brazilian journalist an expert, who has been covering illegal operations in Rio for years, Red Command "operates like a franchise" with local criminal leaders joining the organization and serving as "commercial associates".

The criminal group concentrates largely on illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking guns, valuable minerals, petroleum products, alcohol cigarettes.

According to the authorities, organization members are well armed and officials reported that while the action was underway, they faced assaults via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The official of the state, the political leader, described Red Command members as drug terrorists and called the law enforcement personnel who died during the operation as brave public servants.

However, the count of fatalities in the security action has come in for criticism from international human rights authorities stating they were "appalled".

In a media appearance the next day, the state leader justified security actions.

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

He added that the events had escalated due to the alleged criminals fought back: "It resulted of the resistance they carried out and the overwhelming response by the illegal group."

The state leader additionally stated that the victims presented by community members in Penha had been "tampered with".

Through a message on social media, he asserted that particular individuals had been taken of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "in order to shift blame to security forces".

A law enforcement representative representing security forces also said that "camouflage clothing, body armor, and firearms" were taken away from the victims and displayed evidence apparently demonstrating a person stripping military attire {off a corpse