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

Bruno Itan

A photographer who documented the aftermath of an extensive law enforcement action in Rio de Janeiro has recounted how local people returned with badly injured victims of people who lost their lives.

The casualties "kept piling up: the numbers kept rising", the photographer reported. They included those of police officers.

A particular victim was discovered headless - others were "totally disfigured", he said. Numerous victims displayed evidence of knife injuries.

In excess of 120 victims lost their lives during the security action on a criminal gang - the bloodiest action Rio has experienced.

The eyewitness reported that he was first alerted about the operation in the early hours by local people from the Alemão area, who contacted him alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The eyewitness traveled to the healthcare center, where the bodies were coming in.

Itan explained that security forces stopped members of the press from entering the operation zone, where the operation were occurring.

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

But Itan, who grew up in the community, stated he was able to enter into the restricted zone, where he continued until dawn.

He reported that Tuesday night, area inhabitants commenced searching the mountainous area that separates the Penha neighborhood from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for loved ones who were unaccounted for after the operation.

Community members from the Penha area proceeded to place the discovered victims in a public space - and Itan's photos show the reaction of the gathered crowd.

"The brutality of what occurred shook me a lot: the grief of relatives, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, sobbing, furious relatives," the eyewitness remembered.

Bruno Itan

The official of the state announced that the extensive law enforcement effort involving around 2,500 security personnel was aimed at preventing a gang referred to as the criminal faction from growing their influence.

At first, local officials claimed that "60 suspects and four police officers" lost their lives during the action.

Officials subsequently stated that their "preliminary" count suggests that 117 alleged criminals were fatally injured.

Rio's public defender's office, that gives legal support to the poor, has estimated the overall count of casualties at 132.

Based on expert analysis, the gang represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has succeeded to expand its territory in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Experts commonly view as a major illegal faction nationally, together with another major gang, and has a history spanning over five decades.

Based on correspondent Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio extensively, Red Command "works as a system" with area gang leaders joining the organization and serving as "commercial associates".

The criminal group engages primarily in illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking weapons, precious metals, fuel, liquor and tobacco.

According to the authorities, criminal affiliates are well armed and officials reported that during the raid, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones.

The state leader of Rio state, the political leader, described Red Command members as "narcoterrorists" and called the law enforcement personnel killed in the raid as "heroes".

Nevertheless, the total of fatalities in the security action has come in for criticism from international human rights authorities expressing they felt "shocked".

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

"We did not plan to cause fatalities. We wanted to detain everyone safely," he declared.

He continued that the events had escalated due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It occurred of the resistance they implemented and the excessive violence by the illegal group."

The governor further reported that the casualties presented by community members in the neighborhood were "altered".

Through a message on online platforms, he claimed that certain victims had been removed of the camouflage clothing he said they had been wearing "in order to shift blame toward law enforcement".

A law enforcement representative representing security forces additionally stated that "camouflage clothing, protective equipment, and arms" were taken away from the bodies and presented video appearing to show a person cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse