🔗 Share this article The casualties continued piling up - eyewitness describes fatal Rio security action Bruno Itan Multiple casualties were laid out in a square in Penha after the deadliest police raid Rio has ever seen A reporter who witnessed the consequences of a large-scale law enforcement action in Rio de Janeiro has reported how local people came back with disfigured remains of those who had died. The victims "kept coming: the count kept increasing", the eyewitness stated. The total contained those of police officers. A particular victim was found without a head - others were "severely damaged", he said. Many also had evidence of blade trauma. Over 120 individuals were killed during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang - the bloodiest action in the city. In excess of 100 suspects were taken into custody as part of the security raid Bruno Itan explained that residents first notified him concerning the action early on Tuesday by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who contacted him informing him gunfire had erupted. The reporter went to the healthcare center, where the victims were arriving. The eyewitness reported that law enforcement prevented journalists from accessing the affected area, where the operation were occurring. "Law enforcement personnel formed a line and said: 'The press doesn't get past here'." But Itan, who grew up in the community, explained he succeeded to gain access into the cordoned-off area, where he continued until the next morning. He explained that Tuesday night, local residents began to search the hillside which divides the Penha neighborhood from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for loved ones who were unaccounted for after the operation. Residents of the Penha neighbourhood arranged the discovered victims in an open area - the photographer's images show the emotions of those present. "The brutality of what occurred affected me deeply: the grief of loved ones, women collapsing, women carrying children, weeping, angry family members," the eyewitness remembered. The photographer There was trauma in the neighborhood as locals retrieved additional victims from the surrounding area The governor of Rio state declared that the large-scale security action involving around 2,500 security personnel was designed to preventing an illegal organization known as the criminal faction from expanding its territory. Initially, the Rio state government stated that "60 suspects plus four law enforcement personnel" lost their lives during the action. They have since said that initial estimates shows that 117 alleged criminals were fatally injured. Rio's public defender's office, which provides legal assistance to low-income residents, has estimated the overall count of people killed to be 132. Based on expert analysis, the gang represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has managed to expand its territory across the region. It is widely considered one of the two largest gangs in Brazil, alongside First Capital Command, and has a history extending half a century. According to Brazilian journalist an expert, who has been covering crime in Rio extensively, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with local criminal leaders joining the organization and acting as "commercial associates". The criminal group engages primarily in drug trafficking, additionally trafficking weapons, precious metals, fuel, beverages and tobacco. Based on official reports, gang members have substantial firearms and officials reported that during the raid, they came under attack using drone-delivered explosives. The official of Rio state, the government representative, described Red Command members as criminal extremists and called the law enforcement personnel killed in the raid as "heroes". However, the count of people killed in the operation has received condemnation from UN human rights officials stating they were "appalled". During a press briefing the next day, the state leader justified security actions. "It wasn't our intention to kill anyone. We aimed to detain everyone safely," he declared. He continued that the situation had escalated as the individuals had retaliated: "It resulted of the counterattack they executed and the disproportionate use of force from the gang members." The governor also said that the casualties displayed by locals in the area had been "manipulated". Via a statement on social media, he claimed that certain victims had been taken of tactical gear which he claimed they wore "to redirect responsibility to security forces". A law enforcement representative of Rio's civil police force also said that military attire, vests, and arms" had been removed from the casualties and displayed evidence seemingly depicting a person cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse