🔗 Share this article The casualties continued piling up - reporter shares deadly Rio law enforcement operation The photographer Numerous victims were laid out in a square in Penha following the bloodiest security action in the city's history A reporter who observed the aftermath of a massive Brazilian police operation in Rio de Janeiro has described how residents came back with disfigured remains of the deceased individuals. The bodies "kept piling up: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer stated. They included security forces. One of the bodies was discovered headless - additional victims were "completely mutilated", he reported. Several bodies showed what he described as stab wounds. Over 120 individuals were killed in the Tuesday operation targeting an illegal organization - the most lethal operation Rio has experienced. Over 100 individuals were taken into custody during the operation Bruno Itan explained that residents first notified him about the operation early on Tuesday by community members from the Alemão area, who reached out telling him there was a shoot-out. The photographer traveled to the healthcare center, where the victims were being brought. The photographer stated that the police blocked media personnel from accessing the Penha neighborhood, where the police action were taking place. "Security forces established a perimeter and said: 'Journalists cannot proceed beyond this point'." But Itan, who grew up in the area, reported he succeeded to enter into the restricted zone, where he remained until the next morning. He explained that Tuesday night, community members began to search the elevated terrain that separates Penha from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for family members who had been missing following the security action. Community members of the Penha neighbourhood organized the recovered bodies in a square - the documented evidence show the reaction of those present. "The harsh reality of what occurred affected me a lot: the sorrow of the families, parents losing consciousness, women carrying children, crying, furious relatives," the reporter recounted. Bruno Itan There was shock in the community as locals found increasing numbers of casualties from the surrounding area The state leader of the state stated that the massive police operation deploying about 2,500 law enforcement members was aimed at halting a criminal group referred to as Comando Vermelho from expanding its territory. At first, the Rio state government stated that "60 suspects along with four officers" lost their lives during the action. They have since said that initial estimates shows that 117 "suspects" lost their lives. The public legal service, that gives legal support to the poor, has estimated the overall count of fatalities at 132. According to researchers, the gang is the only criminal group that recently has managed to increase its control throughout Rio state. It is generally regarded among the biggest criminal organizations nationally, alongside another major gang, and has a history spanning over five decades. Per correspondent an expert, who has been covering crime in Rio for years, the gang "operates like a franchise" with local criminal leaders forming part of the gang and acting as "operational allies". The criminal group concentrates largely on drug trafficking, while also dealing in weapons, gold, energy resources, beverages and tobacco. According to the authorities, gang members are well armed and officials reported that while the action was underway, they came under attack via weaponized unmanned aircraft. The official of Rio state, the government representative, labeled Red Command members as "narcoterrorists" and called the four police officers killed in the raid as "heroes". Nevertheless, the total of fatalities during the raid has received condemnation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stating they were "shocked". During a press briefing the next day, Governor Castro justified security actions. "We did not plan to kill anyone. We aimed to detain everyone safely," he said. He continued that the events intensified because the suspects fought back: "It resulted of the counterattack they carried out and the disproportionate use of force by those criminals." The state leader also said that the victims shown by residents in Penha were "altered". Through a message through digital channels, he asserted that certain victims had been taken of the camouflage clothing he said they had been wearing "in order to shift blame toward law enforcement". Felipe Curi representing security forces also said that military attire, vests, and firearms" were taken away from the casualties and presented video apparently demonstrating a person removing tactical gear {off a corpse