🔗 Share this article

The eyewitness

A reporter who observed the consequences of a large-scale security raid in the metropolitan area has recounted how local people came back with mutilated bodies of the deceased individuals.

The casualties "continued arriving: the numbers kept rising", the eyewitness stated. Among them were security forces.

One individual had been decapitated - while others appeared "completely mutilated", he said. Several bodies showed what appeared to be blade trauma.

Over 120 individuals were fatally injured during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the bloodiest action Rio has experienced.

Bruno Itan stated that he was first alerted to the raid in the early hours by residents living in Alemão, who sent him messages alerting him gunfire had erupted.

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

The photographer stated that law enforcement prevented journalists from entering the operation zone, where the operation were occurring.

"Law enforcement personnel created a barrier and said: 'The press cannot proceed beyond this point'."

But Itan, who grew up in that neighborhood, reported he succeeded to gain access past the security perimeter, where he remained until the next morning.

He described that evening, local residents commenced searching the hillside that borders the Penha neighborhood from the adjacent Alemão area for loved ones who were unaccounted for following the security action.

Residents from the Penha area arranged the located casualties in an open area - the documented evidence display the emotions of those present.

"The harsh reality of the situation shook me profoundly: the grief of relatives, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, weeping, furious relatives," the reporter recounted.

The eyewitness

The state leader of the region stated that the massive police operation with approximately 2,500 law enforcement members was aimed at preventing a gang referred to as Red Command from increasing their control.

Initially, the Rio state government stated that sixty alleged criminals along with four officers" lost their lives in the operation.

Officials subsequently stated that their "preliminary" count shows that 117 individuals have been killed.

The public legal service, that gives legal support to low-income residents, has estimated the final tally of fatalities as 132.

Based on expert analysis, the criminal organization stands as the sole illegal faction which in recent years has managed to expand its territory across the region.

It is generally regarded among the biggest criminal organizations in the country, together with First Capital Command, and has a history dating back more than 50 years.

Based on correspondent a specialist, who has been covering illegal operations in Rio over many years, the criminal organization "works as a system" with area gang leaders joining the organization and serving as "business partners".

The organization concentrates largely on narcotics distribution, additionally trafficking weapons, valuable minerals, energy resources, beverages cigarettes.

Based on official reports, organization members have substantial firearms and police said that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The state leader of the state, Cláudio Castro, characterized Red Command members as drug terrorists and referred to the four police officers fatally injured in the action as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of casualties in the operation has come in for criticism from UN human rights officials saying it was "appalled".

During a press briefing on Wednesday, the state leader supported law enforcement.

"It wasn't our intention to result in deaths. We wanted to take suspects into custody without harm," he declared.

He added that the situation had escalated as the individuals fought back: "It occurred of the retaliation they carried out and the overwhelming response by those criminals."

The governor additionally stated that the casualties presented by community members in the neighborhood were "altered".

In a post through digital channels, he asserted that particular individuals had been stripped of military-style attire he said they had been wearing "to transfer accusation to security forces".

A police official from the police department also said that "camouflage clothing, body armor, and arms" had been removed from the victims and presented video apparently demonstrating a man removing tactical gear {off a corpse