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The eyewitness

An eyewitness who observed the aftermath of an extensive Brazilian police operation in the Brazilian city has recounted how community members brought back mutilated bodies of the deceased individuals.

The victims "kept piling up: the numbers kept rising", the eyewitness stated. Among them were law enforcement personnel.

One of the bodies had been decapitated - while others appeared "completely mutilated", he said. Many also had what appeared to be blade trauma.

In excess of 120 victims were fatally injured during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the deadliest such raid the municipality has seen.

The eyewitness stated that residents first notified him concerning the action Tuesday morning by local people living in Alemão, who contacted him alerting him gunfire had erupted.

The reporter traveled to a local medical facility, where the casualties were coming in.

The eyewitness reported that security forces blocked media personnel from going into the affected area, where the police action were taking place.

"Security forces created a barrier and declared: 'Media representatives are not allowed to pass'."

But Itan, who grew up in that neighborhood, explained he succeeded to make his way past the security perimeter, where he remained until dawn.

He explained during the night, area inhabitants commenced searching the mountainous area that separates Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for relatives who were unaccounted for after the operation.

Community members from the Penha area organized the located casualties in an open area - the documented evidence reveal the emotions of the people there.

"The harsh reality of what occurred shook me deeply: the pain of relatives, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, sobbing, furious relatives," the reporter recounted.

The eyewitness

The governor of Rio state announced that the massive police operation deploying about 2,500 law enforcement members was designed to stopping an illegal organization called Comando Vermelho from increasing their control.

Initially, local officials claimed that sixty individuals along with four officers" had been killed in the raid.

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

Rio's public defender's office, that offers legal help to the poor, has calculated the final tally of fatalities at 132.

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

Experts commonly view among the biggest criminal organizations nationally, in company with a rival criminal group, with a background extending half a century.

According to reporter Rafael Soares, who has long reported on crime in Rio for years, Red Command "operates like a franchise" with neighborhood bosses affiliating with the group and serving as "business partners".

The criminal group engages primarily in drug trafficking, while also dealing in weapons, precious metals, fuel, liquor and tobacco.

Per law enforcement statements, gang members have substantial firearms and authorities stated that during the raid, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The governor of the state, Cláudio Castro, labeled gang affiliates as criminal extremists and referred to the four police officers who died during the operation as "heroes".

But the number of fatalities during the raid has received condemnation from UN human rights officials stating they were "appalled".

During a press briefing the next day, Governor Castro defended the police force.

"It wasn't our intention to cause fatalities. We aimed to take suspects into custody without harm," he said.

He continued that the situation had escalated as the individuals fought back: "It was a consequence of the retaliation they executed and the excessive violence by those criminals."

The governor also said that the bodies shown by residents in Penha were "altered".

Through a message on social media, he said that certain victims had been taken of tactical gear which he claimed they wore "to redirect responsibility to security forces".

A law enforcement representative from the police department additionally stated that military attire, vests, and firearms" had been removed from the victims and displayed evidence appearing to show a man stripping military attire {off a corpse