🔗 Share this article

The photographer

An eyewitness who observed the consequences of a massive Brazilian police operation in the Brazilian city has recounted how community members brought back badly injured victims of the deceased individuals.

The casualties "continued arriving: the count kept increasing", the eyewitness described. Among them were security forces.

One of the bodies was found without a head - while others appeared "severely damaged", he reported. Numerous victims displayed evidence of knife injuries.

More than 120 people were killed during Tuesday's raid targeting an illegal organization - the deadliest such raid in the city.

The photographer explained that residents first notified him concerning the action in the early hours by community members from the Alemão area, who sent him messages telling him there was a shoot-out.

The photographer made his way to the healthcare center, where the bodies were being brought.

The eyewitness reported that the police prevented journalists from going into the affected area, where the operation were taking place.

"Police officers created a barrier and said: 'Media representatives are not allowed to pass'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who was raised in the area, stated he succeeded to make his way into the restricted zone, where he continued through the night.

He reported that Tuesday night, local residents began to search the mountainous area which divides Penha from the adjacent Alemão area for loved ones who had been missing since the police raid.

Community members of the Penha neighbourhood proceeded to place the discovered victims in a square - and Itan's photos display the reaction of those present.

"The brutality of the situation shook me a lot: the sorrow of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, pregnant wives, sobbing, outraged parents," the eyewitness remembered.

Bruno Itan

The state leader of the state stated that the massive police operation with approximately 2,500 security personnel was intended to stopping an illegal organization referred to as the criminal faction from growing their influence.

At first, local officials stated that sixty alleged criminals and four police officers" were fatally injured in the raid.

Officials subsequently stated that their "preliminary" count shows that 117 alleged criminals lost their lives.

The public legal service, that gives legal support to the poor, has estimated the total number of fatalities as 132.

According to researchers, the gang stands as the sole illegal faction that recently has succeeded to make territorial gains across the region.

Experts commonly view one of the two largest gangs in the country, in company with another major gang, with a background spanning over five decades.

Per reporter an expert, who has been covering illegal operations in Rio over many years, the gang "functions as a network" with local criminal leaders affiliating with the group and serving as "business partners".

The gang focuses mainly on illegal drug trade, while also dealing in firearms, precious metals, energy resources, alcohol smoking products.

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

The governor of the region, the political leader, described Red Command members as drug terrorists and described the four police officers fatally injured in the action as brave public servants.

However, the count of casualties in the operation has come in for criticism with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights saying it was "appalled".

During a press briefing on Wednesday, the official justified security actions.

"We did not plan to result in deaths. We intended to detain everyone safely," he declared.

He further explained that the circumstances intensified because the suspects had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the resistance they implemented and the disproportionate use of force from the gang members."

The official additionally stated that the bodies presented by community members in the neighborhood had been "manipulated".

In a post on online platforms, he asserted that certain victims had been removed of the camouflage clothing which he claimed they wore "to transfer accusation toward law enforcement".

A police official representing security forces also said that "camouflage clothing, vests, and arms" were taken away from the victims and displayed evidence apparently demonstrating a person cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse