🔗 Share this article

The eyewitness

A photographer who documented the consequences of a massive security raid in the Brazilian city has reported how local people brought back disfigured remains of the deceased individuals.

The casualties "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the eyewitness stated. The total contained security forces.

A particular victim was discovered headless - while others appeared "totally disfigured", he reported. Several bodies showed what appeared to be stab wounds.

Over 120 individuals lost their lives during Tuesday's raid against a criminal group - the most lethal operation in the city.

The eyewitness reported that he was first alerted to the raid early on Tuesday by community members of the Alemão neighbourhood, who contacted him informing him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The reporter traveled to the healthcare center, where the victims were coming in.

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

"Law enforcement personnel created a barrier and said: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who grew up in that neighborhood, stated he managed to enter past the security perimeter, where he remained through the night.

He reported that evening, area inhabitants began to search the mountainous area which divides Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Local people living in Penha proceeded to place the discovered victims in a square - and Itan's photos display the reaction of the people there.

"The violence of the situation shook me profoundly: the pain of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, women carrying children, weeping, furious relatives," the reporter recounted.

Bruno Itan

The state leader of the state stated that the massive police operation deploying about 2,500 officers was aimed at stopping a criminal group called Comando Vermelho from growing their influence.

Initially, the Rio state government maintained that sixty individuals and four police officers" were fatally injured in the raid.

Officials subsequently stated that early calculations indicates that 117 alleged criminals have been killed.

The legal assistance organization, that gives legal support to disadvantaged individuals, has estimated the overall count of fatalities to be 132.

According to researchers, Red Command stands as the sole illegal faction that in the past few years has been able to expand its territory across the region.

It is widely considered among the biggest criminal organizations nationally, together with another major gang, with a background dating back more than 50 years.

Based on reporter a specialist, who has long reported on illegal operations in Rio over many years, Red Command "works as a system" with neighborhood bosses joining the organization and serving as "operational allies".

The criminal group engages primarily in illegal drug trade, but also smuggles guns, gold, fuel, beverages and tobacco.

Based on official reports, criminal affiliates possess significant weaponry and police said that during the raid, they faced assaults using drone-delivered explosives.

The governor of the state, Cláudio Castro, described gang affiliates as criminal extremists and referred to the law enforcement personnel killed in the raid as courageous individuals.

However, the count of casualties during the raid has faced scrutiny from international human rights authorities stating they were "appalled".

In a media appearance the next day, the official defended the police force.

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

He added that the situation worsened because the suspects fought back: "It was a consequence of the counterattack they executed and the overwhelming response by those criminals."

The official also said that the victims presented by community members in Penha had been "manipulated".

In a post on social media, he asserted that particular individuals had been taken of tactical gear which he claimed they wore "to transfer accusation toward law enforcement".

Felipe Curi of Rio's civil police force also said that tactical gear, protective equipment, and arms" were stripped from the bodies and displayed evidence seemingly depicting an individual stripping military attire {off a corpse