🔗 Share this article

The photographer

A photographer who documented the results of a large-scale security raid in the Brazilian city has recounted how community members returned with badly injured victims of the deceased individuals.

The victims "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer reported. Among them were security forces.

One of the bodies had been decapitated - while others appeared "completely mutilated", he explained. Many also had what he described as stab wounds.

In excess of 120 victims lost their lives during the security action on a criminal gang - the deadliest such raid the municipality has seen.

Bruno Itan reported that he was first alerted concerning the action Tuesday morning by residents from the Alemão area, who reached out informing him there was a shoot-out.

The photographer went to the healthcare center, where the victims were coming in.

The eyewitness reported that security forces stopped members of the press from accessing the affected area, where the police action were occurring.

"Police officers established a perimeter and said: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."

But Itan, who grew up in the community, reported he succeeded to gain access into the restricted zone, where he continued until the next morning.

He explained that Tuesday night, community members started looking the elevated terrain that borders Penha from the adjacent Alemão area for loved ones whose whereabouts were unknown since the police raid.

Residents from the Penha area arranged the discovered victims in an open area - the photographer's images display the response of those present.

"The harsh reality of what occurred impacted me a lot: the sorrow of relatives, women collapsing, expectant spouses, crying, angry family members," the reporter recounted.

The eyewitness

The state leader of Rio state declared that the large-scale security action involving around 2,500 officers was intended to halting a criminal group called Red Command from expanding its territory.

At first, state authorities stated that sixty individuals plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed in the raid.

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

Rio's public defender's office, that gives legal support to disadvantaged individuals, has estimated the final tally of fatalities to be 132.

According to researchers, the criminal organization represents the unique criminal entity that recently has managed to increase its control across the region.

It is generally regarded among the biggest criminal organizations in the country, in company with a rival criminal group, with a background extending half a century.

Based on reporter an expert, with extensive experience documenting crime in Rio for years, the gang "functions as a network" with neighborhood bosses affiliating with the group and becoming "commercial associates".

The criminal group focuses mainly on drug trafficking, while also dealing in firearms, gold, energy resources, beverages cigarettes.

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

The official of the region, the government representative, described gang affiliates as "narcoterrorists" and called the four police officers fatally injured in the action as "heroes".

However, the count of casualties during the raid has received condemnation from UN human rights officials saying it was "horrified".

In a media appearance the next day, the state leader supported law enforcement.

"We did not plan to kill anyone. We wanted to take suspects into custody without harm," he said.

He continued that the events intensified as the individuals fought back: "It was a consequence of the resistance they implemented and the excessive violence by those criminals."

The official additionally stated that the bodies presented by community members in Penha were "altered".

Through a message through digital channels, he claimed that some of them had been taken of the camouflage clothing which he claimed they wore "to redirect responsibility onto the police".

A law enforcement representative of Rio's civil police force additionally stated that military attire, body armor, and weapons" had been removed from the victims and presented video apparently demonstrating a man cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse