🔗 Share this article

The photographer

A photographer who observed the consequences of a large-scale security raid in the Brazilian city has reported how local people returned with disfigured remains of those who had died.

The victims "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer reported. The total contained those of police officers.

One of the bodies was discovered headless - additional victims were "completely mutilated", he explained. Several bodies showed what appeared to be blade trauma.

Over 120 individuals were killed during the security action on a criminal gang - the most lethal operation in the city.

Bruno Itan explained that he initially learned about the operation in the early hours by local people living in Alemão, who contacted him informing him there was a shoot-out.

The photographer went to the healthcare center, where the bodies were being brought.

Itan explained that law enforcement blocked media personnel from accessing the affected area, where the police action were taking place.

"Law enforcement personnel established a perimeter and declared: 'Media representatives are not allowed to pass'."

However, the photographer, who was raised in the area, stated he was able to gain access past the security perimeter, where he stayed through the night.

He reported that evening, local residents began to search the hillside that separates the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for family members whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Local people of the Penha neighbourhood arranged the located casualties in a public space - the photographer's images show the reaction of those present.

"The brutality of the situation affected me deeply: the pain of loved ones, women collapsing, pregnant wives, sobbing, furious relatives," the eyewitness remembered.

The eyewitness

The governor of the region declared that the large-scale security action with approximately 2,500 law enforcement members was designed to preventing a criminal group known as the criminal faction from growing their influence.

At first, state authorities stated that sixty alleged criminals along with four officers" were fatally injured during the action.

They have since said that their "preliminary" count shows that 117 "suspects" were fatally injured.

The public legal service, which provides legal assistance to disadvantaged individuals, has estimated the final tally of people killed as 132.

According to researchers, the gang is the only criminal group that recently has succeeded to expand its territory throughout Rio state.

Experts commonly view as a major illegal faction in the country, alongside First Capital Command, featuring a timeline spanning over five decades.

According to Brazilian journalist an expert, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio for years, the criminal organization "operates like a franchise" with area gang leaders joining the organization and serving as "business partners".

The gang focuses mainly on illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking weapons, valuable minerals, fuel, beverages cigarettes.

Per law enforcement statements, criminal affiliates have substantial firearms and authorities stated that during the raid, they faced assaults using drone-delivered explosives.

The official of the region, Cláudio Castro, labeled Red Command members as "narcoterrorists" and called the law enforcement personnel who died during the operation as courageous individuals.

However, the count of casualties in the operation has faced scrutiny from international human rights authorities expressing they felt "shocked".

In a media appearance the following day, the official defended the police force.

"It wasn't our intention to result in deaths. We aimed to arrest them all alive," he said.

He continued that the events had escalated as the individuals had retaliated: "It occurred of the retaliation they carried out and the disproportionate use of force by the illegal group."

The state leader additionally stated that the bodies shown by residents in Penha were "altered".

In a post on social media, he claimed that particular individuals had been taken of military-style attire that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation onto the police".

Felipe Curi representing security forces additionally stated that tactical gear, body armor, and weapons" were taken away from the bodies and showed footage apparently demonstrating a person cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse