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Bruno Itan

A reporter who observed the consequences of an extensive law enforcement action in the metropolitan area has reported how local people returned with badly injured victims of people who lost their lives.

The casualties "kept coming: the numbers kept rising", the photographer stated. The total contained those of police officers.

One individual was found without a head - others were "severely damaged", he explained. Numerous victims displayed what he described as blade trauma.

In excess of 120 victims were killed during the security action against a criminal group - the deadliest such raid in the city.

The photographer reported that residents first notified him about the operation Tuesday morning by residents from the Alemão area, who reached out informing him gunfire had erupted.

The eyewitness went to a local medical facility, where the casualties were being brought.

The eyewitness reported that law enforcement prevented journalists from accessing the operation zone, where the police action were taking place.

"Law enforcement personnel formed a line and declared: 'The press cannot proceed beyond this point'."

But Itan, who was raised in that neighborhood, explained he was able to gain access into the cordoned-off area, where he remained through the night.

He described that evening, local residents started looking the hillside which divides the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for loved ones who were unaccounted for following the security action.

Local people of the Penha neighbourhood organized the discovered victims in a public space - the photographer's images show the emotions of those present.

"The violence of what occurred impacted me a lot: the sorrow of loved ones, women collapsing, expectant spouses, crying, furious relatives," the photographer recalled.

Bruno Itan

The state leader of Rio state stated that the massive police operation deploying about 2,500 security personnel was designed to halting an illegal organization referred to as the criminal faction from expanding its territory.

Originally, the Rio state government maintained that sixty individuals along with four officers" had been killed during the action.

Officials subsequently stated that initial estimates indicates that 117 individuals have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, which provides legal assistance to the poor, has calculated the total number of casualties at 132.

According to researchers, the criminal organization is the only criminal group that in the past few years has managed to increase its control throughout Rio state.

It is generally regarded among the biggest criminal organizations in Brazil, together with a rival criminal group, and has a history extending half a century.

Based on Brazilian journalist a specialist, with extensive experience documenting criminal activity in the city over many years, the criminal organization "operates like a franchise" with neighborhood bosses joining the organization and acting as "business partners".

The organization concentrates largely on narcotics distribution, but also smuggles guns, precious metals, fuel, alcohol cigarettes.

According to the authorities, organization members have substantial firearms and authorities stated that during the raid, they came under attack from explosive-laden drones.

The state leader of the region, the government representative, described organization participants as "narcoterrorists" and described the law enforcement personnel killed in the raid as "heroes".

Nevertheless, the total of casualties during the raid has come in for criticism from UN human rights officials stating they were "shocked".

In a media appearance the following day, the official supported law enforcement.

"There was no objective to result in deaths. We intended to detain everyone safely," he stated.

He further explained that the events worsened because the suspects had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the counterattack they executed and the overwhelming response by the illegal group."

The governor also said that the victims shown by residents in the area were "altered".

Through a message through digital channels, he asserted that some of them had been removed of tactical gear he said they had been wearing "to redirect responsibility onto the police".

Felipe Curi representing security forces further reported that tactical gear, protective equipment, and weapons" were taken away from the bodies and displayed evidence appearing to show a person removing tactical gear {off a corpse