The victims kept arriving - reporter shares lethal Rio security action

Bruno Itan

A reporter who witnessed the consequences of a massive security raid in Rio de Janeiro has reported how residents brought back badly injured victims of the deceased individuals.

The casualties "kept piling up: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", Bruno Itan described. The total contained those of police officers.

One of the bodies was discovered headless - while others appeared "completely mutilated", he reported. Many also had what he described as stab wounds.

More than 120 people were fatally injured during the security action on a criminal gang - the deadliest such raid 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 gunfire had erupted.

The reporter went to the healthcare center, where the victims were arriving.

Itan explained that security forces blocked media personnel from accessing the affected area, where the security measures were taking place.

"Security forces formed a line and announced: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."

But Itan, who grew up in the area, stated he managed to gain access into the restricted zone, where he stayed through the night.

He reported during the night, community members began to search the mountainous area that separates the community of Penha and the neighboring Alemão community for family members who were unaccounted for after the operation.

Residents living in Penha arranged the recovered bodies in an open area - the photographer's images reveal the emotions of those present.

"The brutality of the situation impacted me profoundly: the sorrow of relatives, parents losing consciousness, women carrying children, sobbing, furious relatives," the eyewitness remembered.

The eyewitness

The governor of the region declared that the massive police operation deploying about 2,500 security personnel was designed to halting a gang referred to as Red Command from growing their influence.

At first, the Rio state government claimed that "60 suspects and four police officers" were fatally injured in the raid.

Authorities later reported that their "preliminary" count suggests that 117 "suspects" have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, that gives legal support to low-income residents, has estimated the final tally of fatalities as 132.

Per investigative findings, the criminal organization stands as the sole illegal faction that recently has been able to expand its territory throughout Rio state.

It is widely considered as a major illegal faction in Brazil, in company with another major gang, and has a history spanning over five decades.

Based on reporter a specialist, who has been covering crime in Rio extensively, the criminal organization "operates like a franchise" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and becoming "commercial associates".

The organization concentrates largely on drug trafficking, additionally trafficking guns, valuable minerals, petroleum products, beverages smoking products.

Per law enforcement statements, organization members possess significant weaponry and officials reported that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The state leader of the region, the political leader, characterized Red Command members as "narcoterrorists" and described the law enforcement personnel fatally injured in the action as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of casualties in the operation has faced scrutiny with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stating they were "appalled".

During a press briefing the following day, Governor Castro supported law enforcement.

"We did not plan to cause fatalities. We aimed to detain everyone safely," he said.

He further explained that the events intensified due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the resistance they executed and the disproportionate use of force by those criminals."

The official also said that the victims shown by residents in the neighborhood had been "manipulated".

Through a message on online platforms, he claimed that particular individuals had been taken of the camouflage clothing which he claimed they wore "to transfer accusation to security forces".

A police official from the police department also said that tactical gear, vests, and weapons" were taken away from the casualties and presented video appearing to show a person stripping military attire {off a corpse