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Bruno Itan

A photographer who documented the aftermath of an extensive security raid in the Brazilian city has described how community members brought back badly injured victims of the deceased individuals.

The casualties "kept coming: the count kept increasing", the photographer described. They included security forces.

One individual was found without a head - additional victims were "severely damaged", he explained. Numerous victims displayed what he described as blade trauma.

Over 120 individuals lost their lives during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the deadliest such raid the municipality has seen.

The photographer stated that he initially learned concerning the action in the early hours by community members from the Alemão area, who reached out informing him there was a shoot-out.

The reporter traveled to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the casualties were arriving.

Itan explained that the police blocked media personnel from going into the Penha neighborhood, where the security measures were occurring.

"Security forces formed a line and said: 'Journalists cannot proceed beyond this point'."

But Itan, who grew up in the area, reported he succeeded to enter past the security perimeter, where he stayed until the next morning.

He reported that Tuesday night, area inhabitants commenced searching the elevated terrain that separates the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for family members whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Residents of the Penha neighbourhood arranged the located casualties in a square - the photographer's images reveal the reaction of the people there.

"The violence of the situation shook me deeply: the sorrow of loved ones, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, crying, furious relatives," the eyewitness remembered.

The photographer

The official of the state announced that the extensive law enforcement effort involving around 2,500 officers was designed to preventing a criminal group called the criminal faction from expanding its territory.

Originally, state authorities maintained that sixty alleged criminals along with four officers" were fatally injured during the action.

Authorities later reported that initial estimates indicates that 117 individuals lost their lives.

The public legal service, which provides legal assistance to the poor, has calculated the total number of people killed at 132.

According to researchers, the gang represents the unique criminal entity that recently has managed to make territorial gains in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

It is widely considered among the biggest criminal organizations in the country, together with a rival criminal group, featuring a timeline spanning over five decades.

Per Brazilian journalist an expert, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio over many years, the gang "operates like a franchise" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and acting as "commercial associates".

The criminal group focuses mainly on narcotics distribution, but also smuggles weapons, precious metals, fuel, alcohol and tobacco.

According to the authorities, criminal affiliates possess significant weaponry and police said that during the raid, they faced assaults from explosive-laden drones.

The state leader of Rio state, the political leader, labeled gang affiliates as criminal extremists and called the four police officers fatally injured in the action as "heroes".

However, the count of fatalities during the raid has faced scrutiny from UN human rights officials stating they were "shocked".

At a news conference the following day, the official justified security actions.

"We did not plan to kill anyone. We wanted to arrest them all alive," he stated.

He continued that the circumstances intensified due to the alleged criminals resisted aggressively: "It occurred of the counterattack they implemented and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The official additionally stated that the casualties shown by residents in the area had been "manipulated".

Via a statement on online platforms, he said that particular individuals had been taken of military-style attire which he claimed they wore "to redirect responsibility onto the police".

A law enforcement representative from the police department also said that tactical gear, vests, and arms" had been removed from the victims and showed footage appearing to show an individual cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse