The bodies just kept coming - eyewitness describes lethal Rio law enforcement operation

Bruno Itan

A reporter who witnessed the consequences of a massive Brazilian police operation in the metropolitan area has recounted how community members came back with badly injured victims of people who lost their lives.

The bodies "kept piling up: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer stated. They included those of police officers.

One of the bodies was discovered headless - while others appeared "totally disfigured", he reported. Many also had what he described as knife injuries.

Over 120 individuals were killed during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the deadliest such raid the municipality has seen.

The eyewitness explained that he initially learned about the operation in the early hours by community members of the Alemão neighbourhood, who sent him messages alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The reporter traveled to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the bodies were coming in.

The photographer stated that law enforcement blocked media personnel from accessing the affected area, where the police action were taking place.

"Law enforcement personnel established a perimeter and announced: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."

But Itan, who grew up in the community, explained he succeeded to make his way into the cordoned-off area, where he continued until dawn.

He reported that evening, area inhabitants started looking the mountainous area that separates the community of Penha and the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for loved ones whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Local people from the Penha area proceeded to place the located casualties in a square - and Itan's photos show the reaction of the gathered crowd.

"The harsh reality of the situation impacted me profoundly: the grief of the families, women collapsing, expectant spouses, crying, furious relatives," the reporter recounted.

Bruno Itan

The state leader of the state declared that the extensive law enforcement effort involving around 2,500 officers was aimed at preventing a gang referred to as the criminal faction from growing their influence.

At first, local officials maintained that sixty alleged criminals and four police officers" had been killed in the raid.

Authorities later reported that early calculations suggests that 117 alleged criminals have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, which provides legal assistance to the poor, has estimated the final tally of fatalities at 132.

Per investigative findings, the gang is the only criminal group that in the past few years has succeeded to expand its territory across the region.

Experts commonly view among the biggest criminal organizations nationally, in company with First Capital Command, and has a history dating back more than 50 years.

Based on correspondent an expert, who has been covering illegal operations in Rio for years, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with area gang leaders joining the organization and acting as "business partners".

The criminal group focuses mainly on illegal drug trade, but also smuggles firearms, gold, petroleum products, alcohol smoking products.

Based on official reports, criminal affiliates have substantial firearms and officials reported that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The official of the region, Cláudio Castro, characterized gang affiliates as "narcoterrorists" and referred to the security forces who died during the operation as courageous individuals.

However, the count of fatalities during the raid has received condemnation from international human rights authorities saying it was "appalled".

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

"There was no objective to result in deaths. We intended to detain everyone safely," he declared.

He added that the situation intensified as the individuals fought back: "It resulted of the resistance they executed and the overwhelming response by the illegal group."

The official further reported that the bodies presented by community members in the neighborhood had been "tampered with".

Through a message on online platforms, he claimed that particular individuals had been stripped of military-style attire he said they had been wearing "to redirect responsibility to security forces".

A law enforcement representative of Rio's civil police force additionally stated that tactical gear, protective equipment, and firearms" were stripped from the casualties and presented video seemingly depicting an individual removing tactical gear {off a corpse