🔗 Share this article

The eyewitness

An eyewitness who observed the aftermath of an extensive security raid in the Brazilian city has described how local people brought back mutilated bodies of those who had died.

The casualties "kept piling up: the count kept increasing", the photographer described. Among them were security forces.

A particular victim was discovered headless - others were "completely mutilated", he said. Many also had what he described as stab wounds.

In excess of 120 victims were killed during Tuesday's raid targeting an illegal organization - the deadliest such raid in the city.

The photographer reported that he was first alerted concerning the action in the early hours by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who contacted him telling him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The reporter made his way to a local medical facility, where the victims were arriving.

Itan explained that law enforcement stopped members of the press from entering the operation zone, where the operation was under way.

"Security forces created a barrier and said: 'Journalists cannot proceed beyond this point'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who grew up in the area, reported he was able to gain access past the security perimeter, where he stayed until the next morning.

He reported that evening, area inhabitants began to search the mountainous area which divides Penha from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for family members whose whereabouts were unknown after the operation.

Residents from the Penha area arranged the located casualties in a public space - the documented evidence reveal the emotions of those present.

"The violence of it all affected me deeply: the pain of loved ones, mothers fainting, women carrying children, sobbing, furious relatives," the eyewitness remembered.

The photographer

The official of the region stated that the extensive law enforcement effort with approximately 2,500 law enforcement members was intended to stopping a gang known as Comando Vermelho from growing their influence.

Initially, local officials stated that "60 suspects along with four officers" had been killed in the raid.

They have since said that early calculations suggests that 117 "suspects" have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, that offers legal help to the poor, has calculated the final tally of fatalities as 132.

According to researchers, the criminal organization is the only criminal group which in recent years has managed to expand its territory throughout Rio state.

Experts commonly view as a major illegal faction in the country, alongside First Capital Command, with a background spanning over five decades.

Based on Brazilian journalist an expert, who has long reported on criminal activity in the city for years, Red Command "works as a system" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and acting as "operational allies".

The gang concentrates largely on illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking weapons, precious metals, energy resources, alcohol and tobacco.

Per law enforcement statements, gang members have substantial firearms and officials reported that while the action was underway, they faced assaults via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The official of the state, the government representative, labeled organization participants as "narcoterrorists" and described the law enforcement personnel who died during the operation as "heroes".

Nevertheless, the total of fatalities during the raid has faced scrutiny from international human rights authorities stating they were "shocked".

In a media appearance on Wednesday, the official defended the police force.

"We did not plan to cause fatalities. We aimed to take suspects into custody without harm," he said.

He continued that the situation had escalated as the individuals had retaliated: "It resulted of the resistance they carried out and the disproportionate use of force by the illegal group."

The governor additionally stated that the victims displayed by locals in Penha had been "tampered with".

Through a message on online platforms, he claimed that particular individuals had been removed of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "to transfer accusation toward law enforcement".

Felipe Curi from the police department also said that "camouflage clothing, body armor, and firearms" were taken away from the bodies and presented video apparently demonstrating an individual cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse