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The photographer

A reporter who documented the aftermath of a massive security raid in the Brazilian city has reported how residents came back with disfigured remains of the deceased individuals.

The victims "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer described. They included those of police officers.

One of the bodies was discovered headless - others were "completely mutilated", he explained. Many also had what he described as knife injuries.

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

The eyewitness stated that he initially learned to the raid in the early hours by local people from the Alemão area, who sent him messages telling him there was a shoot-out.

The reporter made his way to a local medical facility, where the casualties were coming in.

The photographer stated that security forces prevented journalists from entering the Penha neighborhood, where the operation was under way.

"Security forces created a barrier and announced: 'Journalists doesn't get past here'."

But Itan, who spent his childhood in the community, stated he succeeded to gain access into the restricted zone, where he stayed through the night.

He explained that Tuesday night, local residents started looking the elevated terrain that borders the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for relatives who were unaccounted for after the operation.

Local people living in Penha proceeded to place the discovered victims in an open area - the photographer's images reveal the reaction of the gathered crowd.

"The harsh reality of it all shook me a lot: the pain of loved ones, women collapsing, pregnant wives, weeping, furious relatives," the photographer recalled.

The photographer

The official of Rio state declared that the extensive law enforcement effort involving around 2,500 officers was aimed at preventing a gang referred to as Red Command from expanding its territory.

Originally, state authorities maintained that sixty alleged criminals and four police officers" were fatally injured during the action.

They have since said that their "preliminary" count suggests that 117 individuals lost their lives.

The legal assistance organization, that gives legal support to the poor, has estimated the overall count of fatalities as 132.

Per investigative findings, the criminal organization stands as the sole illegal faction that recently has succeeded to increase its control across the region.

It is widely considered as a major illegal faction in Brazil, alongside another major gang, with a background extending half a century.

Based on Brazilian journalist an expert, who has been covering criminal activity in the city over many years, the criminal organization "works as a system" with local criminal leaders forming part of the gang and serving as "commercial associates".

The gang engages primarily in illegal drug trade, but also smuggles firearms, valuable minerals, energy resources, liquor and tobacco.

Per law enforcement statements, gang members possess significant weaponry and police said that throughout the operation, they faced assaults from explosive-laden drones.

The state leader of the state, the political leader, described Red Command members as criminal extremists and referred to the security forces killed in the raid as "heroes".

However, the count of fatalities during the raid has received condemnation from international human rights authorities stating they were "horrified".

At a news conference the following day, the state leader defended the police force.

"There was no objective to result in deaths. We aimed to arrest them all alive," he stated.

He added that the situation worsened as the individuals fought back: "It resulted of the retaliation they carried out and the overwhelming response by the illegal group."

The state leader additionally stated that the casualties displayed by locals in the area had been "manipulated".

Via a statement through digital channels, he asserted that certain victims had been removed of tactical gear which he claimed they wore "to transfer accusation onto the police".

Felipe Curi representing security forces further reported that "camouflage clothing, body armor, and arms" were taken away from the victims and showed footage appearing to show a man removing tactical gear {off a corpse