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The eyewitness

An eyewitness who witnessed the results of a massive Brazilian police operation in Rio de Janeiro has reported how community members brought back badly injured victims of those who had died.

The casualties "kept coming: the numbers kept rising", the eyewitness stated. They included security forces.

A particular victim was found without a head - while others appeared "totally disfigured", he explained. Numerous victims displayed evidence of stab wounds.

In excess of 120 victims lost their lives in the Tuesday operation on a criminal gang - the bloodiest action in the city.

Bruno Itan reported that residents first notified him concerning the action early on Tuesday by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who contacted him alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The reporter traveled to the healthcare center, where the casualties were being brought.

Itan explained that the police prevented journalists from entering the affected area, where the police action were taking place.

"Police officers formed a line and declared: 'Media representatives doesn't get past here'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who was raised in the area, explained he succeeded to make his way past the security perimeter, where he continued until the next morning.

He described that Tuesday night, local residents began to search the mountainous area which divides the community of Penha and the neighboring Alemão community for family members who had been missing after the operation.

Community members from the Penha area proceeded to place the located casualties in an open area - and Itan's photos reveal the reaction of the people there.

"The brutality of the situation shook me a lot: the pain of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, women carrying children, crying, outraged parents," the reporter recounted.

The eyewitness

The state leader of Rio state stated that the massive police operation with approximately 2,500 law enforcement members was intended to preventing a gang known as the criminal faction from expanding its territory.

Initially, local officials claimed that "60 suspects along with four officers" lost their lives during the action.

They have since said that early calculations suggests that 117 individuals lost their lives.

The public legal service, which provides legal assistance to low-income residents, has calculated the final tally of casualties to be 132.

Per investigative findings, the criminal organization represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has managed to increase its control throughout Rio state.

Experts commonly view as a major illegal faction in the country, in company with a rival criminal group, and has a history dating back more than 50 years.

According to Brazilian journalist a specialist, who has been covering crime in Rio extensively, the gang "functions as a network" with neighborhood bosses affiliating with the group and acting as "operational allies".

The organization concentrates largely on narcotics distribution, but also smuggles guns, valuable minerals, petroleum products, liquor and tobacco.

Per law enforcement statements, organization members possess significant weaponry and officials reported that during the raid, they encountered resistance via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The governor of the state, Cláudio Castro, characterized gang affiliates as drug terrorists and referred to the law enforcement personnel killed in the raid as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of fatalities in the security action has received condemnation from international human rights authorities saying it was "shocked".

In a media appearance on Wednesday, Governor Castro justified security actions.

"It wasn't our intention to kill anyone. We intended to arrest them all alive," he declared.

He added that the circumstances intensified because the suspects had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the retaliation they implemented and the excessive violence by those criminals."

The official further reported that the bodies shown by residents in Penha were "altered".

In a post through digital channels, he claimed that some of them had been taken of military-style attire which he claimed they wore "to redirect responsibility toward law enforcement".

Felipe Curi of Rio's civil police force also said that tactical gear, body armor, and firearms" were stripped from the casualties and showed footage apparently demonstrating a person removing tactical gear {off a corpse