The casualties continued piling up - photographer recounts deadly Rio law enforcement operation

The eyewitness

An eyewitness who observed the aftermath of an extensive security raid in the metropolitan area has recounted how residents returned with mutilated bodies of the deceased individuals.

The casualties "kept piling up: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the eyewitness stated. They included those of police officers.

One individual was found without a head - others were "completely mutilated", he explained. Many also had what appeared to be blade trauma.

Over 120 individuals were killed in the Tuesday operation on a criminal gang - the deadliest such raid the municipality has seen.

The eyewitness explained that residents first notified him concerning the action early on Tuesday by local people living in Alemão, who sent him messages telling him there was a shoot-out.

The eyewitness made his way to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the casualties were being brought.

The photographer stated that the police stopped members of the press from going into the affected area, where the security measures were occurring.

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

However, the photographer, who spent his childhood in the area, explained he was able to make his way into the cordoned-off area, where he continued through the night.

He explained that Tuesday night, community members commenced searching the elevated terrain which divides Penha from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for family members whose whereabouts were unknown since the police raid.

Community members from the Penha area proceeded to place the located casualties in a square - the photographer's images show the response of the gathered crowd.

"The harsh reality of what occurred shook me deeply: the sorrow of the families, women collapsing, women carrying children, sobbing, furious relatives," the photographer recalled.

The eyewitness

The state leader of the region stated that the extensive law enforcement effort deploying about 2,500 security personnel was aimed at preventing an illegal organization known as Comando Vermelho from expanding its territory.

At first, local officials stated that sixty individuals plus four law enforcement personnel" lost their lives in the operation.

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

The legal assistance organization, that gives legal support to low-income residents, has put the final tally of fatalities at 132.

According to researchers, the gang stands as the sole illegal faction which in recent years has succeeded to expand its territory in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

It is widely considered one of the two largest gangs in the country, alongside First Capital Command, with a background extending half a century.

Based on Brazilian journalist a specialist, who has long reported on criminal activity in the city over many years, the gang "works as a system" with local criminal leaders joining the organization and serving as "commercial associates".

The gang engages primarily in illegal drug trade, while also dealing in weapons, precious metals, petroleum products, alcohol cigarettes.

According to the authorities, organization members are well armed and authorities stated that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance using drone-delivered explosives.

The official of Rio state, the government representative, described organization participants as drug terrorists and called the four police officers killed in the raid as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of fatalities during the raid has faced scrutiny from international human rights authorities stating they were "appalled".

During a press briefing on Wednesday, the official defended the police force.

"It wasn't our intention to kill anyone. We wanted to detain everyone safely," he said.

He added that the events worsened due to the alleged criminals fought back: "It resulted of the resistance they executed and the excessive violence by those criminals."

The governor also said that the bodies displayed by locals in the area had been "tampered with".

Through a message through digital channels, he claimed that particular individuals had been removed of military-style attire which he claimed they wore "to transfer accusation onto the police".

A law enforcement representative from the police department also said that tactical gear, vests, and arms" were stripped from the bodies and presented video seemingly depicting an individual cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse