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The eyewitness

A photographer who observed the aftermath of a large-scale security raid in the Brazilian city has recounted how residents came back with mutilated bodies of the deceased individuals.

The victims "kept piling up: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer reported. Among them were those of police officers.

A particular victim was discovered headless - others were "completely mutilated", he reported. Several bodies showed evidence of blade trauma.

More than 120 people lost their lives during the security action against a criminal group - the most lethal operation the municipality has seen.

The eyewitness reported that he was first alerted about the operation in the early hours by community members of the Alemão neighbourhood, who reached out alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The photographer traveled to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the casualties were coming in.

The photographer stated that security forces prevented journalists from accessing the Penha neighborhood, where the security measures were occurring.

"Law enforcement personnel established a perimeter and said: 'The press doesn't get past here'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who was raised in the community, reported he managed to make his way past the security perimeter, where he stayed until the next morning.

He reported during the night, local residents started looking the elevated terrain that separates the Penha neighborhood from the adjacent Alemão area for family members who had been missing following the security action.

Community members from the Penha area proceeded to place the located casualties in an open area - the documented evidence display the reaction of those present.

"The harsh reality of the situation affected me deeply: the pain of the families, women collapsing, pregnant wives, crying, angry family members," the photographer recalled.

The eyewitness

The state leader of the region announced that the extensive law enforcement effort with approximately 2,500 security personnel was intended to preventing a criminal group known as Red Command from growing their influence.

Initially, state authorities claimed that sixty alleged criminals plus four law enforcement personnel" lost their lives in the raid.

Authorities later reported that initial estimates shows that 117 alleged criminals lost their lives.

The legal assistance organization, that gives legal support to the poor, has estimated the total number of people killed to be 132.

Based on expert analysis, the gang is the only criminal group which in recent years has succeeded to make territorial gains throughout Rio state.

It is generally regarded as a major illegal faction in Brazil, alongside First Capital Command, with a background dating back more than 50 years.

According to reporter Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting criminal activity in the city for years, the gang "functions as a network" with neighborhood bosses affiliating with the group and serving as "business partners".

The organization concentrates largely on illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking weapons, valuable minerals, fuel, beverages and tobacco.

According to the authorities, criminal affiliates are well armed and police said that during the raid, they encountered resistance using drone-delivered explosives.

The state leader of the region, the political leader, described organization participants as criminal extremists and referred to the four police officers who died during the operation as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of people killed in the operation has come in for criticism with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressing they felt "appalled".

At a news conference the next day, Governor Castro supported law enforcement.

"There was no objective to cause fatalities. We wanted to arrest them all alive," he stated.

He continued that the situation intensified due to the alleged criminals fought back: "It resulted of the counterattack they implemented and the disproportionate use of force by the illegal group."

The governor additionally stated that the casualties presented by community members in Penha had been "manipulated".

In a post on social media, he claimed that certain victims had been taken of military-style attire that he stated they possessed "in order to shift blame onto the police".

Felipe Curi of Rio's civil police force further reported that military attire, protective equipment, and weapons" were stripped from the bodies and presented video seemingly depicting a man removing tactical gear {off a corpse