The bodies just kept coming - reporter shares fatal Rio security action

Bruno Itan

An eyewitness who witnessed the results of an extensive security raid in the metropolitan area has reported how community members came back with disfigured remains of the deceased individuals.

The victims "kept piling up: the count kept increasing", the eyewitness reported. They included security forces.

A particular victim was found without a head - others were "completely mutilated", he explained. Several bodies showed evidence of blade trauma.

In excess of 120 victims were fatally injured during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the deadliest such raid the municipality has seen.

The photographer stated that he was first alerted concerning the action early on Tuesday by local people living in Alemão, who reached out alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The eyewitness made his way to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the casualties were coming in.

The photographer stated that law enforcement prevented journalists from accessing the operation zone, where the operation was under way.

"Security forces formed a line and announced: 'Media representatives doesn't get past here'."

But Itan, who spent his childhood in the community, explained he was able to enter into the restricted zone, where he remained until dawn.

He described that evening, community members commenced searching the mountainous area that borders the community of Penha and the adjacent Alemão area for family members who were unaccounted for after the operation.

Residents living in Penha arranged the discovered victims in an open area - the photographer's images display the response of the gathered crowd.

"The brutality of it all affected me profoundly: the sorrow of the families, parents losing consciousness, expectant spouses, weeping, furious relatives," the eyewitness remembered.

Bruno Itan

The governor of the region declared that the large-scale security action involving around 2,500 security personnel was intended to stopping an illegal organization referred to as Red Command from growing their influence.

Originally, the Rio state government claimed that "60 suspects along with four officers" were fatally injured during the action.

Authorities later reported that initial estimates indicates that 117 alleged criminals were fatally injured.

Rio's public defender's office, that gives legal support to disadvantaged individuals, has calculated the total number of fatalities as 132.

Based on expert analysis, the gang represents the unique criminal entity that in the past few years has succeeded to expand its territory throughout Rio state.

It is widely considered as a major illegal faction nationally, in company with another major gang, and has a history extending half a century.

Based on reporter an expert, who has been covering criminal activity in the city for years, the criminal organization "works as a system" with local criminal leaders joining the organization and acting as "business partners".

The organization engages primarily in illegal drug trade, but also smuggles firearms, valuable minerals, fuel, alcohol cigarettes.

Based on official reports, gang members possess significant weaponry and officials reported that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The governor of the region, Cláudio Castro, described gang affiliates as drug terrorists and called the law enforcement personnel fatally injured in the action as courageous individuals.

Nevertheless, the total of people killed in the security action has received condemnation from UN human rights officials saying it was "shocked".

At a news conference the following day, Governor Castro defended the police force.

"It wasn't our intention to kill anyone. We aimed to detain everyone safely," he stated.

He further explained that the events had escalated as the individuals fought back: "It was a consequence of the resistance they carried out and the overwhelming response by those criminals."

The official further reported that the bodies displayed by locals in the area had been "manipulated".

In a post through digital channels, he said that particular individuals had been stripped of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "to redirect responsibility to security forces".

Felipe Curi of Rio's civil police force further reported that "camouflage clothing, vests, and firearms" were stripped from the bodies and showed footage appearing to show a man stripping military attire {off a corpse