🔗 Share this article The victims kept arriving - photographer recounts lethal Rio law enforcement operation Bruno Itan Multiple casualties were arranged in an open area in the Rio neighborhood after the most lethal operation in the city's history A reporter who observed the aftermath of an extensive law enforcement action in Rio de Janeiro has recounted how residents came back with disfigured remains of people who lost their lives. The casualties "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", Bruno Itan stated. They included those of police officers. One individual was found without a head - while others appeared "severely damaged", he reported. Several bodies showed what he described as knife injuries. In excess of 120 victims lost their lives during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the most lethal operation in the city. In excess of 100 suspects were detained during the police action The eyewitness explained that residents first notified him concerning the action early on Tuesday by community members of the Alemão neighbourhood, who contacted him telling him there was a shoot-out. The photographer made his way to the healthcare center, where the victims were arriving. Itan explained that security forces stopped members of the press from accessing the Penha neighborhood, where the security measures were taking place. "Police officers formed a line and declared: 'The press are not allowed to pass'." However, the photographer, who spent his childhood in the community, reported he managed to enter past the security perimeter, where he stayed until the next morning. He explained that evening, community members commenced searching the mountainous area which divides Penha from the adjacent Alemão area for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action. Residents from the Penha area arranged the located casualties in a square - the documented evidence reveal the response of those present. "The brutality of what occurred affected me profoundly: the grief of the families, women collapsing, expectant spouses, crying, outraged parents," the eyewitness remembered. The eyewitness There was shock in the neighborhood as community members found more and more bodies from the surrounding area The governor of the state announced that the extensive law enforcement effort with approximately 2,500 officers was designed to halting an illegal organization called Red Command from growing their influence. Originally, the Rio state government stated that "60 suspects along with four officers" were fatally injured during the action. Authorities later reported that their "preliminary" count shows that 117 alleged criminals lost their lives. The legal assistance organization, that gives legal support to low-income residents, has put the total number of fatalities as 132. According to researchers, the criminal organization represents the unique criminal entity that in the past few years has managed to increase its control throughout Rio state. It is widely considered as a major illegal faction in the country, in company with another major gang, with a background extending half a century. Based on correspondent a specialist, who has been covering crime in Rio for years, the gang "works as a system" with local criminal leaders forming part of the gang and serving as "operational allies". The gang focuses mainly on drug trafficking, while also dealing in weapons, precious metals, fuel, liquor cigarettes. Based on official reports, criminal affiliates have substantial firearms and police said that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones. The governor of the region, Cláudio Castro, characterized gang affiliates as drug terrorists and referred to the four police officers fatally injured in the action as "heroes". Nevertheless, the total of casualties in the security action has come in for criticism from international human rights authorities stating they were "shocked". In a media appearance on Wednesday, the state leader defended the police force. "It wasn't our intention to cause fatalities. We aimed to take suspects into custody without harm," he stated. He added that the events had escalated as the individuals fought back: "It was a consequence of the counterattack they executed and the excessive violence by the illegal group." The official also said that the bodies shown by residents in the neighborhood had been "manipulated". In a post through digital channels, he claimed that some of them had been taken of tactical gear which he claimed they wore "to redirect responsibility toward law enforcement". Felipe Curi representing security forces additionally stated that tactical gear, vests, and arms" were taken away from the bodies and displayed evidence appearing to show an individual stripping military attire {off a corpse